different between chirp vs squeak

English

Etymology

From Middle English *chirpen (attested only in the derivative Middle English chirpinge, cyrpynge, chyrypynge (“chirping”). Compare Middle English chirken and chirmen. More at chirk, chirm. Compare also Middle English chirten (“to smack, chirrup”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /t???(?)p/
• Rhymes: -??(r)p

Noun

chirp (plural chirps)

1. A short, sharp or high note or noise, as of a bird or insect.
2. (radar, sonar, radio telescopy etc.) A pulse of signal whose frequency sweeps through a band of frequencies for the duration of the pulse.

Derived terms

• downchirp
• upchirp

Translations

Verb

chirp (third-person singular simple present chirps, present participle chirping, simple past and past participle chirped)

1. (intransitive) To make a short, sharp, cheerful note, as of small birds or crickets.
2. (intransitive) To speak in a high-pitched staccato.
3. (transitive, radar, sonar, radio telescopy etc.) To modify (a pulse of signal) so that it sweeps through a band of frequencies throughout its duration.
4. (transitive, obsolete) To cheer up; to make (someone) happier.
5. (Canada) To speak rapid insulting comical banter back and forth.

Derived terms

• chirping cup

Translations

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /skwi?k/
• Rhymes: -i?k

Noun

squeak (plural squeaks)

1. A short, high-pitched sound, as of two objects rubbing together, or the calls of small animals.
2. (games) A card game similar to group solitaire.
3. (slang) A narrow squeak.
   • 1905, E. W. Hornung, A Thief in the Night

     "I had the very devil of a squeak for it," he went on. "I did the hurdles over two or three garden-walls, but so did the flyer who was on my tracks, and he drove me back into the straight and down to High Street like any lamplighter. […]

Translations

Verb

squeak (third-person singular simple present squeaks, present participle squeaking, simple past and past participle squeaked)

1. (intransitive) To emit a short, high-pitched sound.
2. (intransitive, slang) To inform, to squeal.

   • If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him.

3. (transitive) To speak or sound in a high-pitched manner.
4. (intransitive, games) To empty the pile of 13 cards a player deals to oneself in the card game of the same name.
5. (intransitive, informal) To win or progress by a narrow margin.
   • 1999, Surfer (volume 40, issues 7-12)

     […] allowing Parkinson to squeak into the final by a half-point margin.

Synonyms

• (to inform): drop a dime, grass up, snitch; See also Thesaurus:rat out

Derived terms

• bubble and squeak
• squeakish
• squeaky
• squeak by
• squeak through

Translations

Anagrams

• quakes