squeaking

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
squeak/skwiːk/

▶noun a short, high-pitched sound or cry.

■ [with neg.] a single remark or communication.

▶verb

• 1 make a squeak.

  ■ say something in a high-pitched tone.

• 2 informal inform on someone.

• 3 informal achieve something by a narrow margin: the bill squeaked through.

– derivatives
squeakily adverb,
squeakiness noun,
squeaky adjective (squeakier, squeakiest).

– origin ME (as v.): imitative; cf. squeal and shriek.