alarm
Meanings
noun
- A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
- Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
- A device intended to warn or give notice of approaching danger.
- A sudden attack; a disturbance.
- Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by the apprehension of danger; a feeling of heightened alertness to risk; in the military use, commonly, sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise.
- A mechanical device for awaking people, or rousing their attention.
- An instance of an alarm ringing, beeping or clanging, to give a noise signal at a certain time.
verb
- 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.
- 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.
- To surprise with apprehension of danger; to fill with anxiety in regard to threatening evil; to excite with sudden fear.
- To keep in excitement; to disturb.
Pronunciation
Word forms
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”).
Related words
Derived words
Translations
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