alarm
/əˈlɑɹm/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.28 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
Countable
noun
Sudden surprise with fear or terror caused by the apprehension of danger; a feeling of heightened alertness to risk.
Countable
Example Sentences
- "Arming to answer in a night alarm."
- "Sound an alarm in my holy mountain."
- "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."
- "The fire alarm is located high on the wall to prevent tampering."
- "Lord Marshal, command our officers-at-arms Be ready to direct these home alarms."
- "Is it then true, as distant rumours run, that crowds of rivals for thy mother's charms thy Palace fill with insults and alarms?"
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”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /əˈlɑɹm/
- British English: /əˈlɑːm/