squawk

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squawk / skwôk/ • v. [intr.] (of a bird) make a loud, harsh noise: the geese flew upriver, squawking. ∎  [with direct speech] (of a person) say something in a loud, discordant tone: “What are you doing?” she squawked. ∎  complain or protest about something.• n. a loud, harsh or discordant noise made by a bird or a person. ∎  a complaint or protest: her plan provoked a loud squawk from her friends.DERIVATIVES: squawk·er n.

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