Kreischend

Kreischend is a term used to describe a high-pitched, shrill, and often piercing sound. It can be associated with a variety of sources, both animal and human. In the animal kingdom, many birds produce kreischend calls, particularly during moments of alarm or aggression. Certain insects, such as cicadas, also generate loud, kreischend sounds as part of their mating rituals.

Among humans, a kreischend sound is typically an involuntary vocalization, often stemming from extreme emotion such as fear, pain, or intense excitement. It is a sound that cuts through ambient noise and can be quite startling to those who hear it. The quality of a kreischend sound is characterized by its high frequency and rapid fluctuations in pitch, giving it a strained and piercing quality. While not a technical term in acoustics, it effectively captures the subjective experience of listening to such a sound.