alarm

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A device that makes a loud sound to warn of danger.

   The fire alarm went off in the middle of the night.

2. 2
   noun

   A clock or device that wakes you up or reminds you at a set time.

   I set my alarm for six in the morning.

3. 3
   noun

   A sudden feeling of fear or worry caused by danger.

   There is no cause for alarm.

4. 4
   verb

   To make someone feel frightened or worried.

   I don't mean to alarm you, but your car is on fire.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Alarm entered late Middle English through Old French alarme from Italian all’ arme!, “to arms!” It began as a call to take up weapons and later came to denote a warning; the early English variant alarum became restricted to the sound of a warning bell or clock in the late 16th century.

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”).

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary