siren

[ sahy-ruhn ]

noun

1. Classical Mythology. one of several sea nymphs, part woman and part bird, who lure mariners to destruction by their seductive singing.
2. a seductively beautiful or charming woman, especially one who beguiles men:

   a siren of the silver screen.

   Synonyms: vamp, temptress, seductress

3. an acoustical instrument for producing musical tones, consisting essentially of a disk pierced with holes arranged equidistantly in a circle, rotated over a jet or stream of compressed air, steam, or the like, so that the stream is alternately interrupted and allowed to pass.
4. an implement of this kind used as a whistle, fog signal, or warning device.
5. any of several aquatic, eellike salamanders of the family Sirenidae, having permanent external gills, small forelimbs, and no posterior limbs.

adjective

1. of or like a siren.
2. seductive or tempting, especially dangerously or harmfully:

   the siren call of adventure.

verb (used without object)

1. to go with the siren sounding, as a fire engine.

verb (used with object)

1. to allure in the manner of a siren.

siren

/ ˈsaɪərən /

noun

1. a device for emitting a loud wailing sound, esp as a warning or signal, typically consisting of a rotating perforated metal drum through which air or steam is passed under pressure
2. sometimes capital Greek myth one of several sea nymphs whose seductive singing was believed to lure sailors to destruction on the rocks the nymphs inhabited
3. 1. a woman considered to be dangerously alluring or seductive
   2. ( as modifier )

      her siren charms

4. any aquatic eel-like salamander of the North American family Sirenidae, having external gills, no hind limbs, and reduced forelimbs

Other Words From

• siren·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of siren¹

1300–50; Middle English sereyn < Old French sereine < Late Latin Sīrēna, Latin Sīrēn < Greek Seirḗn

Word History and Origins

Origin of siren¹

C14: from Old French sereine, from Latin sīrēn, from Greek seirēn

Example Sentences

A surveillance video from a private home, broadcast by WRC-TV, shows a moped traveling near Seventh and Kennedy streets NW followed by a police vehicle with its lights and siren on.

From Washington Post

The statement said the officer was traveling westbound on East Capitol Street and approaching Southern Avenue with his emergency lights and sirens activated.

From Washington Post

Horns honking, planes making their very-final descent, sirens heckling from around the neighborhood — they come with the territory of performing outdoors in any city.

From Washington Post

In fact, it would be hard to draw more attention without the help of some sirens and a bullhorn.

From Ars Technica

Harmon cranked up his siren and flashed the cruiser’s red and blue lights.

From ProPublica

The garrulous assistant to a fading screen siren in Clouds of Sils Maria.

From The Daily Beast

Anyway, Hurley magically built a career from it, and is still smiling and siren-ing.

From The Daily Beast

That song would soon morph from the jaunty clip of the light rail to the siren sounds of jazz.

From The Daily Beast

As I stepped into the main building that housed Unit C, an earsplitting siren blared suddenly and a dozen strobes flashed.

From The Daily Beast

Half an hour after I had returned to my old apartment from Jaffa, an air raid siren went off.

From The Daily Beast

He came close to having convulsions when a squad car passed on the next street west, its siren wailing.

From Project Gutenberg

The soldier of Revolution must not be lured from the field of battle by the siren song of love.

From Project Gutenberg

That police car, roaring up from behind, siren a-scream, smashed into the tail end of their job.

From Project Gutenberg

The officers of the Siren saw them also, and sent their boats into the harbor to aid the fugitives, if necessary.

From Project Gutenberg

A little while afterwards the Canada's siren began to wail and squeal with a horrible mockery of painful cries.

From Project Gutenberg