Library / English Dictionary

ALARM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A device that signals the occurrence of some undesirable event

Synonyms:

alarm; alarm system; warning device

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("alarm" is a kind of...):

device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "alarm"):

automobile horn; car horn; hooter; horn; motor horn (a device on an automobile for making a warning noise)

burglar alarm (a warning device that is tripped off by the occurrence of a burglary)

fire alarm; smoke alarm (an alarm that is tripped off by fire or smoke)

horn (an alarm device that makes a loud warning sound)

siren (an acoustic device producing a loud often wailing sound as a signal or warning)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A clock that wakes a sleeper at some preset time

Synonyms:

alarm; alarm clock

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("alarm" is a kind of...):

clock (a timepiece that shows the time of day)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger

Synonyms:

alarm; alarum; alert; warning signal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("alarm" is a kind of...):

sign; signal; signaling (any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "alarm"):

torpedo (a small explosive device that is placed on a railroad track and fires when a train runs over it; the sound of the explosion warns the engineer of danger ahead)

air alert (the warning signal that begins a period of preparation for an enemy air attack)

burglar alarm (a loud warning signal produced by a burglar alarm)

fire alarm (a shout or bell to warn that fire has broken out)

foghorn; fogsignal (a loud low warning signal that can be heard by fogbound ships)

horn (a noise made by the driver of an automobile to give warning)

red flag (a flag that serves as a warning signal)

siren (a warning signal that is a loud wailing sound)

alarm bell; tocsin (the sound of an alarm (usually a bell))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Fear resulting from the awareness of danger

Synonyms:

alarm; consternation; dismay

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("alarm" is a kind of...):

fear; fearfulness; fright (an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight))

Attribute:

alarming (frightening because of an awareness of danger)

unalarming (not alarming; assuaging alarm)

Derivation:

alarm (warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness)

alarm (fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness

Example:

We alerted the new neighbors to the high rate of burglaries

Synonyms:

alarm; alert

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "alarm" is one way to...):

warn (notify of danger, potential harm, or risk)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "alarm"):

wake (make aware of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

alarm (fear resulting from the awareness of danger)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised

Example:

The news of the executions horrified us

Synonyms:

alarm; appal; appall; dismay; horrify

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "alarm" is one way to...):

affright; fright; frighten; scare (cause fear in)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "alarm"):

shock (strike with horror or terror)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The bad news will alarm him

Derivation:

alarm (fear resulting from the awareness of danger)

alarmist (a person who alarms others needlessly)

Credits

 Context examples: 

One thing, in this connection, White Fang quickly learnt, and that was that a thieving god was usually a cowardly god and prone to run away at the sounding of the alarm.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He was gagged before he could give the alarm, and tied down upon the bed.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He had an alarming way now when he was drunk of drawing his cutlass and laying it bare before him on the table.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Their faces expressed a mixture of curiosity and anger, which annoyed and in some degree alarmed me.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Understand and properly respond to device alarms.

(Medical Device Safety, Food and Drug Administration)

“I cannot at the moment recall any possible blunder which you have omitted. The total effect of your proceeding has been to give the alarm everywhere and yet to discover nothing.”

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“What is it?” cried Alleyne, looking about in alarm.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But they must have been very sure of success before they put the odds up to such a figure, and it is that which alarms me.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But the temptation of a discovery so singular and profound at last overcame the suggestions of alarm.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Do make sure your smoke alarms work.

(Fire Safety, NIH)