alarm
UK /əˈlɑːm/ · US /əˈlɑɹm/ noun, verb
Forms alarms alarming alarmed alarum
- noun (countable) A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
- noun (countable) Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
- noun (countable) A device intended to warn or give notice of approaching danger. “The fire alarm is located high on the wall to prevent tampering.”
- noun (countable) A sudden attack; a disturbance.
- noun (countable) Sudden surprise with fear or terror caused by the apprehension of danger; a feeling of heightened alertness to risk. “His actions caused alarm among all the other people in the store, who hurried to leave.”
- noun (countable)A mechanical device for awaking people or rousing their attention. “The clock radio is a friendlier version of the cold alarm by the bedside.”
- noun (countable) An instance of an alarm ringing, beeping or clanging, to give a noise signal at a certain time. “Last night's alarm turned out to be nothing, but it was terrifying at the time.”
- verb (transitive) To call to arms for defense.
- verb (transitive) To give (someone) notice of approaching danger or necessary action; to rouse to vigilance; to put on the alert. “The sudden drop in temperature should alarm you into taking precautions.”
- verb (transitive, of a device) To produce a warning of approaching danger or necessary action; to emit a signal intended to rouse a recipient to vigilance or put them on the alert.
- verb (transitive) To surprise with apprehension of danger; to fill with anxiety in regard to threatening evil; to excite with sudden fear. “The loud bang in the hallway seemed to alarm everyone in the building.”
- verb (transitive) To keep in excitement; to disturb.
Synonyms
dismay consternation warning device alarm system alert warning signal alarum alarm clock appal appall horrify
Etymology
From Middle English alarme, alarom, borrowed from Middle French alarme, itself from Old Italian all'arme! (“to arms!, to the weapons!”), ultimately from Latin arma (“arms, weapons”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
- noun Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warming sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
- verb To call to arms for defense; to give notice to (any one) of approaching danger; to rouse to vigilance and action; to put on the alert.
- verb To keep in excitement; to disturb.
Etymology [F. alarme, It. all' arme to arms ! fr. L. arma, pl., arms. See Arms, and cf. Alarum.]
Etymology [Alarm, n. Cf. F. alarmer.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “alarm”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details