Shrillness

Shrillness

Shrillness denotes the harsh, strident quality a sound has. Some instruments, like the piccolo have a shrillness in the upper register; thus notes there are mostly used for ornamentation. In the human voice, shrillness relates to the degree in which a vocal sounds like a scream. Although any pitch, high or low, can be shrill, the terminology usually is applied to sounds high in the whistle register, where the difference between a musical note and a blood curdling scream can be thin.


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  • Shrillness — Shrill ness, n. The quality or state of being shrill. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shrillness — noun a) The property of being shrill. The shrillness of her voice made peoples ears hurt, or so they claimed. b) The result or product of being shrill …   Wiktionary

  • shrillness — shrill ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of a voice or sound) high pitched and piercing. 2) derogatory (of a complaint or demand) loud and forceful. ► VERB ▪ make a shrill noise. DERIVATIVES shrillness noun shrilly adverb. ORIGIN …   English terms dictionary

  • shrillness — noun 1. the quality of being sharp or harsh to the senses the shrillness of her hair color • Derivationally related forms: ↑shrill • Hypernyms: ↑interest, ↑interestingness 2. having the timbre of a loud high pitched sound • …   Useful english dictionary

  • shrillness — noun see shrill II …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • shrillness — See shrill. * * * …   Universalium

  • shrillness — shrill·ness || ʃrɪlnɪs n. quality of being high pitched, piercing, sharp (about a sound) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • shrillness — shrill·ness …   English syllables

  • shrillness — See: shrill …   English dictionary

  • oxyphonia — Shrillness or high pitch of the voice. [G. oxys, sharp, + phone, voice] * * * oxy·pho·nia .äk si fō nē ə n shrillness or high pitch of the voice * * * oxy·pho·nia (ok″se foґne ə) [Gr. oxyphōnia] an abnormally sharp quality or… …   Medical dictionary

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