squeaked

Squeaked is the past tense of the verb squeak. A squeak is a short, high-pitched, sharp sound, or the act of producing such a sound. The word is onomatopoeic, mimicking the characteristic noise it describes.

In everyday usage, squeaked describes audible sounds made by animals, objects, or mechanisms. Examples include a mouse squeaking in fear, a door hinge that squeaked as it opened, floorboards that squeaked under foot, or brakes that squeaked due to wear or insufficient lubrication. It can also describe a voice that is unusually high-pitched or strained, as in someone who squeaked a greeting.

Figurative and idiomatic uses exist as well. The phrase "to squeak by" means to achieve a result with only a narrow margin, such as barely meeting a requirement, passing an exam, or surviving a difficult situation. This sense emphasizes scant advantage or success rather than a solid victory.

Etymology and related terminology: squeak originates from an imitation of the sound itself, with the verb form used across senses ranging from physical noises to metaphorical outcomes. Related forms include squeak, squeaking, and squeaky, which describe the sound, its occurrence, or the quality of being high-pitched.