[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/squeal/)

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# squeal

verb (squeal, squeals, squealed, squealing); noun (a squeal, squeals)

«squeal» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To make a long, high, loud sound, like a pig or an excited child. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/#m1)
2. A long, high sound like that, from a person, animal, or brakes or tyres. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/#m2)
3. (slang) To tell secrets to the police or to someone in charge about what others did; to tell on someone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories «squeal» shows delight, fright or pain: children squeal with laughter, pigs squeal, tyres squeal when a car brakes hard. In crime stories and slang «to squeal» means to inform on someone. Phrases: «squeal with delight», «squeal of brakes», «squeal on someone».

### Examples

- The children squealed with delight when they saw the puppies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/#x1)
- The pig gave a loud squeal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/#x2)
- The tyres squealed as the car stopped suddenly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/#x3)
- She let out a squeal when the cold water hit her. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/#x4)
- My little sister squeals every time she goes on the swing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/#x5)
- (slang) He promised he wouldn't squeal on his friends. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/#x6)
- We heard the squeal of the brakes on the bus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/#x7)
- The guinea pigs squeal when they hear the fridge open. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/#x8)
- "Oh! let him go," squealed all the company. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/#x9)

### Note

Regular verb: squealed, squealing. A squeal is higher and longer than a «squeak». The slang sense («squeal on someone», like «grass» in the UK or «dob in» in Australia) is informal and often shows disapproval.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «squeal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/squeal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«squeal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/squeal.html) on Mova free.