clar·i·on

[klar-ee-uhn]
adjective
1.
clear and shrill: the clarion call of a battle trumpet.
noun
2.
an ancient trumpet with a curved shape.
3.
the sound of this instrument.
4.
any similar sound.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English < Medieval Latin clāriōn- (stem of clāriō) trumpet, equivalent to clār- clear + -iōn- -ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To clarion
00:10
Clarion is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Collins
World English Dictionary
clarion (ˈklærɪən) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a four-foot reed stop of trumpet quality on an organ
2.  an obsolete, high-pitched, small-bore trumpet
3.  the sound of such an instrument or any similar sound
 
adj
4.  (prenominal) clear and ringing; inspiring: a clarion call to action
 
vb
5.  to proclaim loudly
 
[C14: from Medieval Latin clāriō trumpet, from Latin clārus clear]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

clarion
early 14c., from O.Fr. clarion, from M.L. clarionem (nom. clario) "a trumpet," from L. clarus "clear."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary

Clarion definition

language
A family of systems from SoftVelocity, Inc. for building database applications on Microsoft Windows. Clarion products include Clarion 4GL language with a C++ and Modula-2 compiler. Clarion products support fast, efficient database application development. Clarion was originally developed by Clarion Software Corporation, later to become TopSpeed Corporation. In 2000, the Clarion product line was acquired by SoftVelocity Inc.
(2003-10-15)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org
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Example sentences
But two studies released this fall added a sour note to the clarion call.
If its chilling claims are even partly true, the report should be read as a clarion call to action.
His voice rises, a crescendo of persuasion, a clarion for the cause.
Clarion has been making dashboards glow green with car stereos for years.
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