alarm
verb
- to cause urgent concern
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L12521 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /əˈlɑːm/ / /əˈlɑɹm/ / /əˈlɑ(rə)m/
noun
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”).
- 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.”
“She went about the house in a state of real terror, and yet lied monstrously and wilfully, and invented many of the alarms she spread, and made many of the sounds we heard.”
- 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.”
“Is it then true, as distant rumours run, that crowds of rivals for thy mother's charms thy Palace fill with insults and 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.”
“Alarm and resentment spread through the camp.”
- 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
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”).
- 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.”
“Her illness started to alarm the doctors, who ordered more tests.”
- 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.