alarm
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alarm
- /əˈlɑːm/ UK
- /əˈlɑɹm/ US
- /əˈlɑ(rə)m/ South Asia
Rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)m
Where it comes from
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”).
noun alarms · alarum
- A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. Arming to answer in a night alarm.
- Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger. Sound an alarm in my holy mountain.
- A device intended to warn or give notice of approaching danger. The fire alarm is located high on the wall to prevent tampering.
- A sudden attack; a disturbance. Lord Marshal, command our officers-at-arms Be ready to direct these home alarms.
- 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.
- A mechanical device for awaking people or rousing their attention. The clock radio is a friendlier version of the cold alarm by the bedside.
- 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 alarms · alarming · alarmed · alarum
- To call to arms for defense.
- 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.
- 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. The tower cab supervisor and various pilots stated that the LLWAS system frequently alarms because of the thunderstorm activity present, and that airspeed losses are common as a result of convective wind shear.
- 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.
- To keep in excitement; to disturb.
