Critical assessment in the form of a high-pitched screech (8)
I believe the answer is:
feedback
This might be a double definition.
'critical assessment' is the first definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
'a high-pitched screech' is the second definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'in the form of' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for feedback that I've seen before include "Responses to customer survey" , "cause of hi-fi distortion?" , "Informative response" , "some whistling?" , "useful response to inquiry" .)