- alarm
- noun1 fear/worryADJECTIVE▪ considerable, great▪ growing▪ sudden▪ public▪
There is growing public alarm at this increase in crime.
▪ unnecessaryVERB + ALARM▪ cause, create, provoke▪The school's policies have caused alarm among parents.
▪The incident created serious public alarm.
▪ express▪Many people have expressed alarm at the plans.
PREPOSITION▪ in alarm▪He shouted out in alarm.
▪ to sb's alarm▪To her parents' alarm, she announced that she intended to travel the world.
▪ with alarm▪The news has been greeted with alarm.
▪ alarm about, alarm at, alarm over▪There has been considerable alarm about the new proposals.
PHRASES▪ cause for alarm▪I see no cause for alarm, as she often arrives late.
2 warning of dangerADJECTIVE▪ false▪The police were called, but it was a false alarm.
VERB + ALARM▪ give, raise, sound▪The guard raised the alarm when he discovered that six prisoners had escaped.
ALARM + NOUN▪ call▪Many birds give alarm calls to warn of danger.
3 deviceADJECTIVE▪ fire, smoke▪ burglar, intruder, security▪ car▪ panic (esp. BrE), personal, rape (BrE)▪Carry a personal alarm with you and make sure you know how to use it.
▪ radioVERB + ALARM▪ set▪I set my alarm for 6.30.
▪ activate, set off, trigger, trip▪Unfortunately any little noise can set off the alarm.
▪ disable, switch off, turn off▪ be fitted with (BrE)▪The fire brigade recommends that every house is fitted with a smoke alarm.
▪ fit (BrE), install▪ testALARM + VERB▪ go off, ring, sound▪The alarm went off at 7 o'clock.
▪Suddenly the alarm sounded and they all had to leave the building.
ALARM + NOUN▪ bell, clock, system▪ call (BrE) (wake-up call in AmE)▪Book an alarm call if you need to make an early start.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
