alarm

Everyday

1. A device that makes a loud noise to warn people of danger: a fire alarm, a smoke alarm. tree →
2. A clock or phone sound that wakes you up at a set time. tree →
3. A sudden feeling of fear or worry: «She cried out in alarm». tree →
4. Verb: to make someone worried or frightened. tree →
5. Alarming means causing fear or worry, or being shocking. tree →

In the lessons

In safety lessons: when the fire alarm rings, stop, leave your things, walk calmly out by the nearest exit and go to the meeting point; never press a fire alarm as a joke; test smoke alarms at home; carbon monoxide alarms. In everyday life: set an alarm to wake up. Phrases: fire alarm, smoke alarm, burglar alarm, alarm clock, set the alarm, false alarm, raise the alarm, in alarm.

Examples

• When the fire alarm rings, line up and walk outside. tree →
• Our smoke alarm beeps when the battery is low. tree →
• My alarm goes off at seven. tree →
• It was a false alarm — just burnt toast. tree →
• Never set off a fire alarm as a joke. tree →
• She raised the alarm when she saw smoke. tree →
• The car alarm went off in the night. tree →
• Don't be alarmed — it's only a drill. tree →
• The other Danish and Swedish stories are not alarming. tree →

Note

Countable when it is a device (alarms), uncountable when it means fear. «Alarming» = worrying. «False alarm» = the alarm rang but there was no danger. A fire drill is a practice; treat every alarm as real.

In Jewish tradition

An alarm is a special trumpet blast, different from the plain blast, that told the camps to set out on a journey. The prophets use it for the horn blown as a war warning, the "alarm of war."

Interpretation. Tradition says two silver trumpets were blown by the priests. A plain blast gathered the people, and the alarm blast set the camps in motion in order. The prophets' alarm is read as a warning to turn back before enemies come.

Examples

• And when ye blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall take their journey. (Torah NUM.10.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• But when the assembly is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. (Torah NUM.10.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• And when ye blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall set forward; they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. (Torah NUM.10.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• A day of the horn and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the high towers. (Prophets ZEP.1.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• Blow ye the horn in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah; sound an alarm at Beth-aven: 'Behind thee, O Benjamin!' (Prophets HOS.5.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• I cannot hold my peace! because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the horn, the alarm of war. (Prophets JER.4.19, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable when it is a device (alarms), uncountable when it means fear. «Alarming» = worrying. «False alarm» = the alarm rang but there was no danger. A fire drill is a practice; treat every alarm as real.