[uh-lahrm] 
| 1. | a sudden fear or distressing suspense caused by an awareness of danger; apprehension; fright. |
| 2. | any sound, outcry, or information intended to warn of approaching danger: Paul Revere raced through the countryside raising the alarm that the British were coming. |
| 3. | an automatic device that serves to call attention, to rouse from sleep, or to warn of fire, smoke, an intruder, etc. |
| 4. | a warning sound; signal for attention. |
| 5. | Animal Behavior. any sound, outcry, chemical discharge, action, or other signal that functions to draw attention to a potential predator. |
| 6. | Fencing. an appeal or a challenge made by a step or stamp on the ground with the advancing foot. |
| 7. | Archaic. a call to arms. |
| 8. | to make fearful or apprehensive; distress. |
| 9. | to warn of danger; rouse to vigilance and swift measures for safety. |
| 10. | to fit or equip with an alarm or alarms, as for fire, smoke, or robbery: to alarm one's house and garage. |
| a·larm (ə-lärm') n.
[Middle English, from Old French alarme, from Old Italian allarme, from all'arme, to arms : alla, to the (from Latin ad illa : ad, to; see ad- + illa, neuter pl. of ille, that, the; see al-1 in Indo-European roots) + arme, arms (from Latin arma; see ar- in Indo-European roots).] a·larm'ing·ly adv. |
Alarm
a particular quivering sound of the silver trumpets to give warning to the Hebrews on their journey through the wilderness (Num. 10:5, 6), a call to arms, or a war-note (Jer. 4:19; 49:2; Zeph. 1:16).
| ALARM air-launched antiradiation missile |
