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Squeaking

 - 3 dictionary results

squeak

[skweek] ,
–noun
1. a short, sharp, shrill cry; a sharp, high-pitched sound.
2. Informal. opportunity; chance: their last squeak to correct the manuscript.
3. an escape from defeat, danger, death, or destruction (usually qualified by narrow or close).
–verb (used without object)
4. to utter or emit a squeak or squeaky sound.
5. Slang. to confess or turn informer; squeal.
–verb (used with object)
6. to utter or sound with a squeak or squeaks.
7. squeak by or through, to succeed, survive, pass, win, etc., by a very narrow margin: They can barely squeak by on their income. The team managed to squeak through.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME squeken, perh. < Scand; cf. Sw skväka to croak


squeak⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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squeak   (skwēk)   
v.   squeaked, squeak·ing, squeaks

v.   intr.
  1. To give forth a short, shrill cry or sound.

  2. Slang To turn informer.

v.   tr.
To utter in a thin, shrill voice.
n.  
  1. A short shrill cry or sound, such as that made by a mouse or a rusty hinge.

  2. An escape: a close squeak.

Phrasal Verb(s):
squeak through/byTo manage barely to pass, win, or survive: squeaked through the test; squeaks by on a limited income.

[Middle English squeken, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse skvakka, to croak.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

squeak  (v.)
1387, probably of imitative origin, similar to Middle Swedish skväka "to squeak, croak." The noun is from 1664; sense of "narrow escape" is from 1822. Squeaky clean in fig. sense is from 1972, probably from advertisements for dishwashing liquid.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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