To scream, howl, or screech in a very loud, high-pitched, and unsettling manner. Some animal has been shrieking like a banshee in the alleyway all night long. Kids, stop shrieking like a banshees back there! I need to focus on driving and I can barely hear myself think!

To utter some loud, forceful sound. I let out a shriek when the dog suddenly jumped on me. The lion let out an intimidating roar.

slang An exclamation point. Typically used within the publishing industry. When you're proofreading a new writer's manuscripts, always try to flag when they're using too many shrieks. It really brings down the quality of the work. My boss's emails are usually quite straightforward and unemotional, so when he starts throwing out shrieks, you know he's either truly excited or truly pissed off!