Standard Lemma guide

squawk

noun · verb · 16 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /skwɔːk/
  • Australian, British, New-Zealand, Southern, Standard: /skwoːk/
  • /skwɔk/ without the cot–caught merger
  • cot-caught-merger: /skwɑk/
  • US: cot-caught Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Scotland: /skwɔk/
  • rhymes with -ɔːk
  • CMU ARPABET: S K W AO1 K Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A shrill noise, especially made by a voice or bird. If made by a bird, it typically signals discomfort or anger; a yell, scream, or call.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A four-digit transponder code used by aircraft for identification or transmission of emergency signals.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A complaint or objection.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

An issue or complaint related to aircraft maintenance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The American night heron.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A warning message indicating a possible error.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, programming, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To make a squawking noise; to yell, scream, or call out shrilly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To speak out; to protest.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To report an infraction; to rat on or tattle; to disclose a secret.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To produce a warning message, indicating a possible error.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, intransitive

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, programming, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To set or transmit a four-digit transponder code. (Normally followed by the specific code in question.)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

Examples

  • After discovering that the hydraulic system is faulty, the pilots squawked 7700 and declared mayday.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To back out in a mean way.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, dated, slang

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

noun

Meaning 13

informal terms for objecting

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I have a gripe about the service here

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gripe, kick, beef, bitch

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: objection

14

noun

Meaning 14

the noise of squawking

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • she awoke to the squawk of chickens
  • the squawk of car horns

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: noise

15

verb

Meaning 15

complain

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • What was he hollering about?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gripe, bitch, grouse, crab, beef, bellyache, holler

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: complain, kick, plain, sound off, quetch, kvetch

16

verb

Meaning 16

utter a harsh abrupt scream

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: screak, skreak, skreigh, screech

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: shout, shout out, cry, call, yell, scream, holler, hollo, squall

History

Etymology

First attested in 1821. Unknown, but probably of imitative origin (compare dialectal Italian squacco (“small-crested heron”) and English quack).

Across languages

Translations

64 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: صَخَب (ṣaḵab) — shrill noise
  • Bulgarian: грачене (gračene) — shrill noise
  • Bulgarian: крясък на птица (krjasǎk na ptica) — shrill noise
  • Dutch: gekrijs — shrill noise
  • Dutch: schreeuw — shrill noise
  • Finnish: kirkuminen — shrill noise
  • Finnish: rääkyminen — shrill noise
  • Galician: grallada — shrill noise
  • Galician: gralla — shrill noise
  • Galician: grallaxe — shrill noise
  • Galician: axirido — shrill noise
  • Galician: gaceo — shrill noise
  • German: Krächzen — shrill noise
  • German: Kreischen — shrill noise
  • German: Schreien — shrill noise
  • Hungarian: vijjogás — shrill noise
  • Irish: grág — shrill noise
  • Italian: stridere — shrill noise
  • Māori: koekoe — shrill noise
  • Māori: tioro — shrill noise
  • Māori: ngāngā — shrill noise
  • Māori: tekekō — shrill noise
  • Māori: koe — shrill noise
  • Māori: ngoengoe — shrill noise
  • Polish: skrzek — shrill noise
  • Russian: крик (krik) — shrill noise
  • Russian: писк (pisk) — shrill noise
  • Serbo-Croatian: пи̑сак — shrill noise
  • Serbo-Croatian: pȋsak — shrill noise
  • Spanish: graznido — shrill noise
  • Spanish: chillido — shrill noise
  • Turkish: ciyaklama — shrill noise
  • Turkish: viyaklama — shrill noise
  • Turkish: şikâyet etme — shrill noise
  • Vietnamese: quác quác — shrill noise
  • Arabic: صَخِبَ (ṣaḵiba) — to make a squawking noise
  • Bulgarian: грача (grača) — to make a squawking noise
  • Bulgarian: кряскам (krjaskam) — to make a squawking noise
  • Dutch: krijsen — to make a squawking noise
  • Dutch: snerpen — to make a squawking noise
  • Finnish: kirkua — to make a squawking noise
  • Finnish: rääkyä — to make a squawking noise
  • Galician: grallar — to make a squawking noise
  • Galician: gacear — to make a squawking noise
  • Galician: axirir — to make a squawking noise
  • German: krächzen — to make a squawking noise
  • German: kreischen — to make a squawking noise
  • German: schreien — to make a squawking noise
  • Hungarian: vijjog — to make a squawking noise
  • Italian: stridere — to make a squawking noise
  • Māori: koekoe — to make a squawking noise
  • Māori: tioro — to make a squawking noise
  • Māori: tekekō — to make a squawking noise
  • Māori: koe — to make a squawking noise
  • Māori: ngāngā — to make a squawking noise
  • Māori: ngoengoe — to make a squawking noise
  • Polish: skrzeczeć — to make a squawking noise
  • Russian: крича́ть (kričátʹ) — to make a squawking noise
  • Russian: кри́кнуть (kríknutʹ) — to make a squawking noise
  • Russian: пища́ть (piščátʹ) — to make a squawking noise
  • Russian: пи́скнуть (písknutʹ) — to make a squawking noise
  • Serbo-Croatian: пи́штати — to make a squawking noise
  • Serbo-Croatian: píštati — to make a squawking noise
  • Spanish: graznar — to make a squawking noise