fire alarm

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fire alarm ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a signal that warns that a fire has started.

a bell, buzzer, siren, horn, etc., that provides such a signal.

RELATED WORDS

siren

Nearby words

fir, firbank, firbolg, firdausi, fire, fire alarm, fire ant, fire apparatus, fire appliance, fire area, fire away

Origin of fire alarm

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fire alarm

A crowd had congregated around the fire-alarm box, and would not let the men pull it.
Report of the Committee Appointed to Investigate the Railroad Riots in July, 1877|Various
It was just a little "fire-alarm drill" to keep the reserve troops up to the high-water mark of efficiency.
The New York Times Current History: the European War, February, 1915|Various
"Fourth Ward, Bottom Level," a voice from the fire-alarm speaker said.
Four-Day Planet|Henry Beam Piper
That fire-alarm thing scared him crazy—he's usually so good!
Queed|Henry Sydnor Harrison

Hearing the fire-alarm and looking out, he was astounded to see that it was the freight-house burning.
Dynamite Stories|Hudson Maxim

British Dictionary definitions for fire alarm

fire alarm

noun

a device to give warning of fire, esp a bell, siren, or hooter

a shout to warn that a fire has broken out

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fire alarm

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of fire alarm

Examples from the Web for fire alarm

British Dictionary definitions for fire alarm

fire alarm

noun