Dictionary

alarm en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /əˈlɑːm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /əˈlɑ(rə)m/ (South-Asia)
• /əˈlɑɹm/ (General-American)
• (US) audio

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”).

Meanings

1. (countable) A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
   • Arming to answer in a night alarm. c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:
2. (countable) Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
   • 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. 1859, Charles Dickens, The Haunted House:
   • Sound an alarm in my holy mountain. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Joel 2:1:
3. (countable) A device intended to warn or give notice of approaching danger.
   • The fire alarm is located high on the wall to prevent tampering.
4. (countable) A sudden attack; a disturbance.
   • Is it then true, as distant rumours run, that crowds of rivals for thy mother's charms thy Palace fill with insults and alarms? 1725, Homer, “Book I”, in [Elijah Fenton], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page III:
   • Lord Marshal, command our officers-at-arms Be ready to direct these home alarms. 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
5. (countable) Sudden surprise with fear or terror caused by the apprehension of danger; a feeling of heightened alertness to risk.
   • Alarm and resentment spread through the camp. 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter I, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:
   • His actions caused alarm among all the other people in the store, who hurried to leave.
6. (countable) A mechanical device for awaking people or rousing their attention.
   • The clock radio is a friendlier version of the cold alarm by the bedside.
7. (countable) 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.

Forms

Descendants

alam

Relateds

five-alarm · heat alarm · car alarm · alarmist · alarm-bell · alarmone · sound the alarm · silent alarm · alarmistic · smoke alarm · fauxcellarm · false alarm · raise the alarm · door alarm · alarm clock · radio alarm · sprinkler alarm · alarmless · baby alarm · state of alarm · alarmable · alarm fatigue · rape alarm · alarm reaction · tocsin · alarm system · hustle alarm · nonalarm · alarm substance · burglar alarm · realarm · alarm bell · alarm call · alarm gauge · fire alarm · carbon monoxide alarm · still alarm · bedwetting alarm · alarmism · multialarm

Translations (145)

hi चेतावनी (notice of approaching danger) · hy ահազանգ (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · az zəngli saat (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · cmn 警報 /警报 (summons to arms) · ru страх (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · ms penggera (notice of approaching danger) · mk страв (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · ko 경보 (summons to arms) · ru сигна́л трево́ги (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · mk тре́вога (notice of approaching danger) · it allarme (summons to arms) · grc τάρβος (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · ca alarma (notice of approaching danger) · pl alarm (notice of approaching danger) · et äratuskell (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ca alarma (summons to arms) · uk буди́льник (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · mi kōruru (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · uz vahima (summons to arms) · mi pūoho (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ko 알람시계 (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ru сигнализа́ция (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · hu riadó (notice of approaching danger) · de Alarmsignal (notice of approaching danger) · es alarma (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · vi sự báo động (summons to arms) · uz taxlika (notice of approaching danger) · es alarma (notice of approaching danger) · pt alarme (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · et häire (notice of approaching danger) · sv väckarklocka (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · vi báo thức (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ca alarma (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · uk триво́га (summons to arms) · cy larwm (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · et alarm (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · ka შიში (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · bg буди́лник (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · it allarme (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · fr réveil (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ms penggera (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · uz vahima (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · fa-ira آژیر (summons to arms) · ka ღელვა (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · hy զարթուցիչ (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · bg обявя́ване на трево́га (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · alt шакпыраш (summons to arms) · ca alarma (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · es despertador (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ca despertador (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · de Alarmstimmung (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · eo alarmo (summons to arms) · hu ébresztő (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · alt шакпырт (summons to arms) · pt despertador (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · bg трево́га (notice of approaching danger) · fr alarme (summons to arms) · pl alarm (summons to arms) · fi pelästyminen (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · ar إِنْذَار (summons to arms) · nl alarm (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · et äratus (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · ka მღელვარება (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · uz taxlika (summons to arms) · vi máy báo thức (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · cmn 警報信號 /警报信号 (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · ta அலாரம் (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · cmn 鬧鐘 /闹钟 (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · sh àlarm (summons to arms) · pl alarm (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · vi báo thức (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · be трыво́га (summons to arms) · hy տագնապ (summons to arms) · be будзі́льнік (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · de Alarm (notice of approaching danger) · es rebato (summons to arms) · hu fegyverbe (summons to arms) · ru буди́льник (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · hy տագնապի ազդանշան (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · eo alarmo (notice of approaching danger) · ru испу́г (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · mk бу́дилник (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · pl alarm (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · ang wōma (notice of approaching danger) · mk бу́дилник (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · nn alarm (notice of approaching danger) · de Alarm (summons to arms) · ja アラーム (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · nl alarmklok (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · el ξυπνητήρι (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ota قورقو (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · mi ahaaha (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · alt токынал јок болоры (summons to arms) · es rebato (notice of approaching danger) · pt alarme (summons to arms) · eo alarmilo (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ru смяте́ние (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · mk тре́вога (summons to arms) · bg трево́га (summons to arms) · fi herätyskello (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · km នាឡិការោទ៍ (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ka განგაში (summons to arms) · sh а̀ларм (summons to arms) · ru опасе́ние (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · hu riadó (summons to arms) · nl alarmstemming (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · gl alarma (notice of approaching danger) · km សំឡេងរោទិ៍ (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · pt alarme (notice of approaching danger) · el συναγερμός (notice of approaching danger) · ru трево́га (summons to arms) · th นาฬิกาปลุก (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · pl budzik (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · fr réveille-matin (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · bg ала́рма (notice of approaching danger) · ko 알람 (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ja 注意 (notice of approaching danger) · ka განგაში (notice of approaching danger) · fi hälytys (instance of an alarm ringing or clanging) · es alarma (summons to arms) · eo alarmo (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · ja 目覚まし時計 (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ja 警報 (summons to arms) · fi hälytys (notice of approaching danger) · ang wōma (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · nl wekker (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ru трево́га (notice of approaching danger) · it allarme (notice of approaching danger) · nl alarmsignaal (notice of approaching danger) · kix tālâm (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · nb alarm (notice of approaching danger) · hu ijedtség (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · de Wecker (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · cy larwm (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · ru сигнализа́тор (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · fi hälytys (summons to arms) · gd rabhadh (notice of approaching danger) · ms weker (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · nl alarmkreet (summons to arms) · gd clisgeadh (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · la pavor (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · hu riadalom (sudden surprise with fear or terror) · ka მაღვიძარა (mechanical contrivance for awaking) · gl alarma (summons to arms) · nl alarm (notice of approaching danger)

alarm en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /əˈlɑːm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /əˈlɑ(rə)m/ (South-Asia)
• /əˈlɑɹm/ (General-American)
• (US) audio

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”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To call to arms for defense.
2. (transitive) To give (someone) notice of approaching danger or necessary action; to rouse to vigilance; to put on the alert.
   • When the carriage drew up in the grass-grown court yard before the hall-door, two lazy-looking men, whose appearance well accorded with that of the place which they tenanted, alarmed by the obstreperous barking of a great chained dog, ran out from some half-ruinous out-houses, and took charge of the horses; […] 1838, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, Passage in the Secret History of an Irish Countess:
   • The sudden drop in temperature should alarm you into taking precautions.
   • Her illness started to alarm the doctors, who ordered more tests.
3. (of a device, transitive) 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. 1985 March 21, National Transportation Safety Board, “2.2 Environmental Factors”, in Aircraft Accident Report: United Airlines Flight 663, Boeing 727-222, N7647U, Denver, Colorado, May 31, 1984, page 39:
4. (transitive) 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.
5. (transitive) To keep in excitement; to disturb.

Forms

Deriveds

alarming

Translations (34)

hu riaszt (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · es alamar (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · nl verontrusten (to keep in excitement; to disturb) · mi whakahopo (to surprise with apprehension of danger) · pt alarmar (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · fi pelästyttää (to surprise with apprehension of danger) · th รบกวน (to keep in excitement; to disturb) · pl alarmować (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · eo alarmi (to surprise with apprehension of danger) · de in Alarmstimmung versetzen (to keep in excitement; to disturb) · ca alarmar (to call to arms) · nl alarmeren (to keep in excitement; to disturb) · pl zaalarmować (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · nl alarm slaan (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · la cōnsternō (to surprise with apprehension of danger) · mi tarakeha (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · fi hälyttää (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · fi huolestuttaa (to keep in excitement; to disturb) · hi चेतावनी (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · eo alarmi (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · ca alarmar (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · fi hälyttää (to call to arms) · bg разтревожвам (to keep in excitement; to disturb) · mi pāoho (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · nl te wapen roepen (to call to arms) · es tocar a rebato (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · ca alarmar (to surprise with apprehension of danger) · nl alarmeren (to surprise with apprehension of danger) · ca alarmar (to keep in excitement; to disturb) · nl beangstigen (to surprise with apprehension of danger) · de alarmieren (to surprise with apprehension of danger) · pt alarmar (to surprise with apprehension of danger) · nl alarmeren (to give notice (by sound or otherwise) of approaching danger) · fi hätäännyttää (to surprise with apprehension of danger)