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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary alarm \\ə-ˈlärm\\ nounalso ala·rum \\ə-ˈlär-əm also -ˈler-; -ˈla-rəm\\ ETYMOLOGY Middle English alarme, alarom, from Middle French alarme, from Old Italian all'arme, literally, to the arms
DATE 14th century
1. usually alarum, archaic : a call to arms the angry trumpet sounds alarum — Shakespeare2. a signal (as a loud noise or flashing light) that warns or alerts; also : a device that signals set the alarm to wake me at seven3. sudden sharp apprehension and fear resulting from the perception of imminent danger4. a warning noticeSynonyms: see fear transitive verbalso alarum DATE 1651
1. disturb , excite 2. to give warning to3. to strike with fear4. to equip with an alarm• alarm·ing·ly \\-ˈlär-miŋ-lē\\ adverb
alarm early 14 c., from O.Fr
http://O.Fr . alarme, from It. all'arme "to arms!" ( lit. "to the arms"). An interjection that came to be used as the word for the call or warning ( cf. alert). Extended 16 c. to "any sound to warn of danger or to arouse." Weakened sense of "apprehension, unease" is from 1833. Variant alarum is due to the rolling -r- in the vocalized form. Sometimes in early years Anglicized as all-arm. The verb is 1580s, from the noun.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishalarm
noun 1 fear/worry ADJ. considerable, great | growing | sudden | public There is growing public alarm at this increase in crime. | unnecessary VERB + ALARM cause, create, provoke The head teacher's policies have provoked alarm among parents. | express, register Many people have expressed alarm at the plans. His face registered no alarm at all when I told him the news. PREP. in ~ He shouted out in alarm. | to sb's ~ To her parents' alarm, she announced that she intended to travel the world. | with ~ The news has been greeted with alarm. | ~ about/at/over There has been considerable alarm about the new proposals. PHRASES alarm and despondency (often humorous) He loves spreading alarm and despondency. | cause for alarm I see no cause for alarm, as she often arrives late. 2 warning of danger ADJ. false The fire service was called out, but it was a false alarm. VERB + ALARM give, raise, sound The guard raised the alarm when he discovered that six prisoners had escaped. ALARM + NOUN call Many birds give alarm calls to warn of danger. 3 device ADJ. fire, smoke | burglar, intruder, security | car | personal, rape Lizzie was carrying a rape alarm but it was out of reach in her handbag. | radio VERB + ALARM set I set my alarm for 6.30. | activate, set off, trigger Unfortunately any little noise can set off the alarm. | switch off, turn off | be fitted with The fire brigade recommends that every house is fitted with a smoke alarm. | fit, install | test ALARM + VERB go off, ring, sound The alarm went off at 7 o'clock. Suddenly the alarm sounded and they all had to leave the building. ALARM + NOUN bell, clock, signal, system | call Book an alarm call if you need to make an early start. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ alarmalarm / E5lB:m; NAmE E5lB:rm / noun1. [U] fear and anxiety that sb feels when sth dangerous or unpleasant might happen 惊恐；惊慌；恐慌: 'What have you done?' Ellie cried in alarm. "你都干了些什么？"埃利惊恐地喊道。 I felt a growing sense of alarm when he did not return that night. 那天夜里他没有回家,我的恐慌感油然而升。 The doctor said there was no cause for alarm. 医生说不必惊慌。 ⇨ note at fear 2. [C, usually sing.] a loud noise or a signal that warns people of danger or of a problem 警报: She decided to sound the alarm (= warn people that the situation was dangerous). 她决定发出警报。 I hammered on all the doors to raise the alarm. 我敲打所有的门让大家警觉。 ⇨ see also false alarm 3. [C] a device that warns people of a particular danger 警报器: a burglar / fire / smoke alarm 防盗/防火/烟火警报器 The cat set off the alarm (= made it start ringing). 猫碰响了警铃。 A car alarm went off in the middle of the night (= started ringing). 半夜里一辆汽车的警报器突然响了起来。 4. = alarm clock : The alarm went off at 7 o'clock. 闹钟在 7 点钟闹铃响了。 IDIOMS ▪ a'larm bells ring / start ringing if you say that alarm bells are ringing, you mean that people are starting to feel worried and suspicious 警钟敲响；发出危险信号verb1. to make sb anxious or afraid 使惊恐；使害怕；使担心 SYN worry : ▪ [VN] The captain knew there was an engine fault but didn't want to alarm the passengers. 船长知道一台发动机出了故障,不过他不想惊动乘客。 ▪ [also VN to inf] ⇨ note at frighten 2. [VN] to fit sth such as a door with a device that warns people when sb is trying to enter illegally 给(门等)安装警报器
alarm noun
⇨ alarm (a burglar alarm) ⇨ fear (a feeling of alarm) ⇨ warning (raise the alarm)
alarm verb
⇨ frighten Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged Search result show the entry is found in: still alarm , or take alarm , or burglar alarm , or alarm bird , or alarm clock , or alarm reaction , or drift alarm , or false alarm , or fire alarm , or flag alarm
alarmI. \əˈlärm, -ȧm\ nounalso alar·um \-a(a)rəm, -er-, -är-, -ȧr-\ ( -s) Etymology: alarm from Middle English alarme, from Middle French, from Old Italian all' arme to arms, literally, to the weapon, from all' to the (from alla, from Latin ad illam to that, from ad to + illam, accusative feminine of ille that, probably alteration — influenced by is he, that — of Old Latin olle, ollus that, akin to Latin uls beyond) + arme weapon, from Latin arma weapons; alarum from Middle English alarom, alteration of alarme — more at at , iterate , all , arm 1. usually alarum, obsolete : a call to arms (as on the approach of an enemy) 2. often alarum : a disturbing noise : distraction , din — usually used in plural < all is quiet, no alarms — A.E.Housman >3. a. : a sound or signal giving notice of danger or calling attention to some event or condition < the whole village heard the alarm > < only one fire company will respond to the first alarm > b. : a device that warns or signals by means of a noise (as a bell or siren) or visual effect (as a flashing light) < set the alarm to wake me at seven > < a burglar set off the alarm at the bank >4. obsolete : a surprise attack : assault 5. a. : a fear or terror resulting from a sudden sense of danger < could not but observe with alarm the quickened motion of our horses — Thomas De Quincey > b. : apprehension of an unfavorable outcome, of failure, or of dangerous consequences < viewed with alarm the growing power of the central government > c. : an occasion of excitement or apprehension < the anxieties of common life began soon to succeed to the alarms of romance — Jane Austen >6. : a notice, warning, or announcement calling attention to a circumstance or event < police put out a two-state alarm for the missing car > < the dog's barking gave the alarm and the intruders were routed >— see alarums and excursions Synonyms: see fear II. verbalso alarum \“\ ( -ed/-ing/-s) transitive verb1. often alarum, obsolete : to rouse to action : urge on < I needed not the shout that should alarm all Asia militant — Thomas De Quincey >2. often alarum, obsolete : to call to arms 3. sometimes alarum : to arouse to a sense of danger : put on the alert < before the battle of Trenton he crossed the river and alarmed the Hessians — E.M.Coulter >4. : to strike with fear : fill with anxiety as to threatening danger or harm < alarmed by the sudden rumbling in the earth >5. : to keep in excitement or commotion : disturb < heavy trucks alarmed one all night — Glenway Wescott >intransitive verb1. : to sound an alarm < when one or both clocks alarm the trigger spring releases — W.F.Cloud >2. : to serve as an alarm — used of a sound Synonyms: see frighten
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