alarm

a|larm1 [ ə`larm ] noun **

1. ) count a piece of electrical equipment that warns you of danger, especially by making a loud noise:

burglar/fire/smoke alarm: Every new house comes complete with smoke alarms.

car alarm: My car alarm went off in the middle of the night.

set off/trigger an alarm: The burglars left empty-handed after triggering the alarm.

2. ) count an ALARM CLOCK:

Did you hear my alarm go off this morning?

3. ) uncount fear or worry that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen:

There was a note of alarm in her voice.

cause for alarm (=something to be frightened of or worried about): She will need to stay in hospital tonight but there is no cause for alarm.

sound/raise the alarm

to tell people about something dangerous that is happening:

The other man swam to the shore to sound the alarm.

=> FALSE ALARM

alarm

a|larm 2 [ ə`larm ] verb transitive **

1. ) to make someone frightened or worried that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen:

I don't want to alarm you but I think there is a serious problem.

2. ) to attach an alarm to something