Definition of "alarm"

alarm

/əˈlɑːm/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural alarms
1. A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
  Quotations
  Arming to answer in a night alarm.
  c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene iii]
2. Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
  Quotations
  Sound an alarm in my holy mountain.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Joel 2:1
  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.
  1859, Charles Dickens, The Haunted House
3. A sudden attack; disturbance.
  Quotations
  Lord Marshal, command our officers-at-armsBe ready to direct these home alarms.
  1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene i]
  Is it then true, as distant rumours run,that crowds of rivals for thy mother's charmsthy Palace fill with insults and alarms?
  1725, Homer, “Book I”, in [Elijah Fenton], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, page III
4. Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by apprehension of danger; in the military use, commonly, sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise.
  Quotations
  Alarm and resentment spread through the camp.
  1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 1, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volumes (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans
5. A mechanical device for awaking people, or rousing their attention.
6. An instance of an alarm ringing, beeping or clanging, to give a noise signal at a certain time.
verb
third-person singular simple present alarms, present participle alarming, simple past and past participle alarmed
1. (transitive) To call to arms for defense
2. (transitive) To give (someone) notice of approaching danger
3. (transitive) To rouse to vigilance and action; to put on the alert.
4. (transitive) To surprise with apprehension of danger; to fill with anxiety in regard to threatening evil; to excite with sudden fear.
5. (transitive) To keep in excitement; to disturb.

Definition of "alarm"

alarm

noun

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations

verb