alarm

1. (n) Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger. 2. (n) A device intended to warn or give notice of approaching danger. 3. (v) (transitive) To give (someone) notice of approaching danger or necessary action; to rouse to vigilance; to put on the alert. 4. (v) (transitive, of a device) To produce a warning of approaching danger or necessary action; to emit a signal intended to rouse a recipient to vigilance or put them on the alert. 5. (v) (transitive) To surprise with apprehension of danger; to fill with anxiety in regard to threatening evil; to excite with sudden fear. 6. (n) Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by apprehension of danger; in the military use, commonly, sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise. 7. (n) A mechanical device for awaking people, or rousing their attention. 8. (n) An instance of an alarm ringing, beeping or clanging, to give a noise signal at a certain time. 9. (n) A sudden attack; a disturbance. 10. (n) A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. 11. (v) (transitive) To call to arms for defense. 12. (v) (transitive) To keep in excitement; to disturb.