Alarm People I Set Sound Warn Time Extra

• she decided to sound the alarm (= warn people that the situation was dangerous).
• i hammered on all the doors to raise the alarm.
• by the time the alarm was raised the intruders had escaped.
• a burglar/fire/smoke alarm

alarm

1. a loud noise or a signal that warns people of danger or of a problem
• SEE ALSO false alarm
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/false-alarm
• She decided to sound the alarm (= warn people that the situation was dangerous).
• I hammered on all the doors to raise the alarm.
• By the time the alarm was raised the intruders had escaped.

Extra Examples

• Many birds give alarm calls to warn of danger.
• Suddenly the alarm sounded and they all had to leave the building.
• Soldier termites sound an alarm by beating their large heads on passage walls.
2. a device that warns people of a particular danger, or that a particular person is in danger
• SEE ALSO burglar alarm
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/burglar-alarm
• a burglar/fire/smoke alarm
• The cat set off the alarm (= made it start ringing).
• A car alarm went off in the middle of the night (= started ringing).
• Carry a personal alarm with you.
• Install an alarm system and learn how to use it.

Extra Examples

• Unfortunately any little noise can set off the alarm.
• Lizzie was carrying a rape alarm but it was out of reach in her handbag.
3. a ringing sound or a tune played by a clock or your phone after you have set it to play at a particular time to wake you up
• The alarm went off at 7 o'clock.
• I set my alarm for 6.30.
4. fear and worry that somebody feels when something dangerous or unpleasant might happen
• What have you done?’ Ellie cried in alarm.
• I felt a growing sense of alarm when he did not return that night.
• The doctor said there was no cause for alarm.

Extra Examples

• To her parents' alarm, she announced that she intended to travel the world.
• His face registered no alarm at all when I told him the news.
• Many people have expressed alarm at the plans.
• The head teacher's policies have provoked alarm among parents.
• The incident created serious public alarm.
• The news has been greeted with alarm.
• There has been considerable alarm about the new proposals.
• There is growing public alarm at this increase in crime.
• He loves spreading alarm and despondency.
5. if you say that alarm bells are ringing, you mean that people are starting to feel worried and to suspect that something is wrong
• The government’s proposal has set alarm bells ringing for people on low incomes.

Word Origin

• late Middle English (as an exclamation meaning ‘to arms!’): from Old French alarme, from Italian allarme, from all' arme! ‘to arms!’.