The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word HOWL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
H
O
W
L
More clues leading to the result HOWL
- With solemn person, hard to cry
- Way in which third of wolves utter plaintive cries
- H-hooter making one laugh
- Cry is first sign of humming bird
- Cry of bird beginning to hover above
- Cry of bird descending from end of branch
- Bird on horse: bay?
- . Starts harassing old woman longing to cry
- Scream seeing wolf briefly straying behind hotel
- The wingless bird’s screech
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "screech" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case screech = howl.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does HOWL mean?
HOWL noun- The protracted, mournful cry of a dog or a wolf, or other like sound.
- A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.
- To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.
- To utter a sound expressive of pain or distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.
- To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.
- To utter with outcry.