squeak
verb1
To emit a short, high-pitched sound.
- But I must warn you that chipboard floors are always likely to squeak. The material is still being used in new-builds, but developers now use adhesive to bed and joint it, rather than screws or nails. I suspect the adhesive will eventually embrittle and crack, resulting in the same squeaking problems as before.2014 August 17, Jeff Howell, “Home improvements: Repairing and replacing floorboards [print version: Never buy anything from a salesman, 16 August 2014, p. P7]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Property):
2
Slang To inform, to squeal.
- If he be obstinate, put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him.1690, [John] Dryden, Don Sebastian, King of Portugal: […], London: […] Jo. Hindmarsh, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
3
To speak or sound in a high-pitched manner.
4
Games To empty the pile of 13 cards a player deals to oneself in the card game of the same name.
5
Informal To win or progress by a narrow margin.
- […] allowing Parkinson to squeak into the final by a half-point margin.1999, Surfer, volume 40, numbers 7-12:
- France were transformed from the feeble, divided unit that had squeaked past Wales in the semi-final, their half-backs finding the corners with beautifully judged kicks from hand, the forwards making yards with every drive and a reorganised Kiwi line-out beginning to malfunction.2011 October 23, Tom Fordyce, “2011 Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand 8-7 France”, in BBC Sport:
- Synonyms
- drop a dime, grass up, snitch
- Derived terms
- squeak by, squeaker, squeakingly, squeak out, squeak through, unsqueaking, until the pips squeak