Definition

1. Noun:

   • A device that makes a loud sound to warn of danger or to signal an event: An "alarm" is a mechanism, such as a bell, siren, or buzzer, that produces a sound to alert people.
   • A feeling of fear or anxiety caused by sudden danger: "Alarm" can refer to the emotional state of being frightened or worried by a perceived threat.
   • A clock that wakes a sleeper: An "alarm" is also a device, often part of a clock, designed to ring or buzz at a set time to wake someone up.

2. Verb:

   • To cause someone to feel fear or worry about danger: To "alarm" someone is to make them feel frightened, anxious, or concerned about a potential threat.
   • To warn of danger: To "alarm" can also mean to give a warning signal.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The fire alarm went off, and everyone evacuated the building.
  • She felt a sense of alarm when she heard the strange noise at night.
  • I set my alarm for 7 a.m. so I wouldn't be late for work.

• Verb:

  • The sudden drop in stock prices alarmed the investors.
  • The government alarmed the public about the approaching storm.

Advanced Usage

• "to raise/sound the alarm": to warn people about a danger or problem.
  • The scientist raised the alarm about climate change decades ago.
• "to cause alarm": to create a feeling of fear or concern.
  • The mysterious lights in the sky caused widespread alarm.
• "false alarm": a warning about a danger that does not happen.
  • The fire drill turned out to be a false alarm.

Variants and Related Words

• Alarming (adj): causing worry or fear.
  • The report contained some alarming statistics.
• Alarmist (noun/adj): (a person) who exaggerates dangers and causes unnecessary fear.
  • Don't be such an alarmist; the situation is under control.
• Alarm clock (noun): a clock with a device that can be set to sound at a chosen time.
  • My alarm clock woke me up with a loud buzz.

Synonyms

• Noun (device): siren, alert, bell, buzzer.
• Noun (fear): fear, fright, panic, apprehension, anxiety.
• Verb (to frighten): frighten, scare, panic, startle, dismay.
• Verb (to warn): alert, warn, notify.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(The word "alarm" itself is not commonly used to form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically expressed through the verb alone or in phrases like "alarm about.")

Related Idioms

• "alarm bells ring/start ringing": to begin to feel that something is wrong.
  • Alarm bells started ringing when he didn't answer his phone for three days.
• "to set off alarm bells": to cause suspicion or concern.
  • His nervous behavior set off alarm bells for the security guard.

Noun

1. a clock that wakes a sleeper at some preset time
2. an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger
3. a device that signals the occurrence of some undesirable event
4. fear resulting from the awareness of danger

Verb

1. warn or arouse to a sense of danger or call to a state of preparedness
   • The empty house alarmed him
   • We alerted the new neighbors to the high rate of burglaries
2. fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised
   • I was horrified at the thought of being late for my interview
   • The news of the executions horrified us