# alarm

Pronunciation: US say "uh-LARM" /əˈlɑɹm/; UK say "uh-LAHM" /əˈlɑːm/

## Noun

1. A device designed to warn people of approaching danger or a threat.
   - Simple: A device that warns people about danger such as fire or a break-in.
   - _The factory installed a gas alarm in every section of the plant._
   - _A flood alarm by the river warns residents when the water rises._
2. A device, such as a wind-up or bedside clock, that sounds to wake a sleeper or to attract attention.
   - Simple: A device that makes a sound at a set time to wake someone.
   - _He relied on a wind-up alarm because his room had no electricity._
   - _The bedside alarm dragged her out of a deep sleep._
3. A sound or piece of information meant to give notice of approaching danger and arouse attention.
   - Simple: A sound or message that warns people danger is near.
   - _Word of the landslide reached the camp as a frantic alarm passed from tent to tent._
   - _The sentry's alarm sent the whole household scrambling toward the cellar._
4. A ringing, beeping, or clanging signal sounded at a set time.
   - Simple: A ringing or beeping sound that goes off at a set time.
   - _A shrill alarm rang out across the ward at exactly noon._
   - _The alarm clanged twice, marking the change of shifts._
5. Sudden fear or distress caused by the awareness of approaching danger.
   - Simple: A sudden feeling of fear caused by sensing that danger is near.
   - _A ripple of alarm passed through the crowd when the lights failed._
   - _She felt a surge of alarm at the sound of breaking glass downstairs._
9. A sudden hostile attack or outbreak of disturbance.
   - Simple: A sudden attack or burst of disorder.
   - _A fierce alarm struck the town walls in the dead of night._
   - _Repeated alarms along the frontier wore down the border companies._
10. A summons calling people to take up arms at the approach of an enemy.
   - Simple: A call telling people to grab weapons when an enemy comes.
   - _When the beacons blazed, the alarm summoned every able man to the walls._
   - _The captain gave the alarm, and the garrison rushed to its posts._

## Verb

6. To fill someone with sudden fear or anxiety about a threatening danger.
   - Simple: To make someone suddenly afraid or worried about danger.
   - _Reports of the outbreak alarmed health officials across the region._
   - _Sudden swings in the market alarm even experienced investors._
7. To give someone notice of approaching danger and rouse them to vigilance.
   - Simple: To warn someone about danger so they get ready to act.
   - _The watchman hurried to alarm the village before the raiders reached the gate._
   - _Scouts alarmed the camp the moment they saw torches on the ridge._
8. Of a device, to give out a warning signal of approaching danger or of action needed, meant to put whoever receives it on the alert.
   - Simple: Of a machine or device, to give out a signal that warns of danger or tells people to act.
   - _Monitors on the ward alarm whenever a patient's heart rate drops too low._
   - _The wind-shear sensors kept alarming throughout the storm, so the tower held all departures._
11. To summon people to take up arms in defense.
   - Simple: To call people to grab weapons and defend themselves.
   - _Sentries alarmed the fort the moment they sighted the raiders._
   - _A single horn can alarm the whole camp within minutes._
12. To keep someone in a state of excitement or unrest, or to disturb them.
   - Simple: To keep someone stirred up or excited, or to disturb them.

## Origin

It comes from Middle English alarme, borrowed from Middle French alarme, which came from the Old Italian all'arme! ("to arms!, to the weapons!"), ultimately from Latin arma ("arms, weapons").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/alarm (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).