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Alarms - 2 dictionary results
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a⋅larm

  [uh-lahrm]
Use Alarms in a Sentence
–noun
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.
–verb (used with object)
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.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME alarme, alarom < MF < OIt allarme, n. from phrase all'arme to (the) arms. See arm 2

Related forms:
a⋅larm⋅a⋅ble, adjective
a⋅larm⋅ed⋅ly  [uh-lahr-mid-lee] , adverb

Synonyms:
1. consternation; terror, panic. See fear. 8. See frighten.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Alarms
Free ADT Security System
 System w/$99 Install. ADT Auth Co. Secure Today, Call ADT 866-750-8480
 FirstHomeAlarm.com
ALARMS Systems By ADT®
 Savvy Consumers Look Past The First Result. Savvy Consumers Buy ADT®.
 www.ADT.com
a·larm   (ə-lärm')   
n.  
  1. A sudden fear caused by the realization of danger.
  2. A warning of existing or approaching danger.
  3. An electrical, electronic, or mechanical device that serves to warn of danger by means of a sound or signal.
  4. The sounding mechanism of an alarm clock.
  5. A call to arms.
tr.v.   a·larmed, a·larm·ing, a·larms
  1. To fill with alarm; frighten. See Synonyms at fear, frighten.
  2. To give warning to.

[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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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