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 Word Forms

• sirenlike 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

In Zhuhai, police patrolled the streets with sirens and megaphones, telling people to stay at home.

From BBC

Emergency sirens, lawn mowers and music in a nightclub, by contrast, can exceed 90 decibels.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, she said, she began to hear the sound of sirens as she approached Hart Street and was confronted by a scene "out of a film set" with wounded children lying on the ground.

From BBC

A video posted on social media shows the siren sounds blaring inside the usually tranquil British Library in London.

From BBC

At 15:00 BST, compatible phones will vibrate and make a siren sound for 10 seconds, even if set to silent.

From BBC