siren

A device that makes a loud warning sound, or the sound it makes.

• I heard a siren.
• The ambulance driver switched on the siren.
• Sirens warned people to leave the building.

Similar words: alarm

Common phrases: police siren, air raid siren, sound the siren, siren sounds

In ancient Greek stories, a female creature whose beautiful singing led sailors towards rocks and death.

• The siren sang to the sailors.
• Sirens tried to draw the ship towards the rocks.
• In the story, he escapes the siren’s deadly song.

Common phrases: a siren’s song, the siren’s call, mythical siren

A woman whose beauty or charm strongly attracts people and may lead them into trouble.

• He fell for a dangerous siren.
• The novel’s siren charms men into betraying their friends.
• She plays a glamorous siren who leads the hero into danger.

Similar words: temptress, femme fatale

Common phrases: a seductive siren, a dangerous siren, screen siren

A person whose beautiful singing attracts and delights listeners.

• The young siren sang beautifully.
• Listeners gathered to hear the siren’s sweet voice.
• The review praised her as a siren who enchanted the audience.

Similar words: songbird

Common phrases: a singing siren, a sweet siren, the young siren

To make a loud warning sound using an alarm, or make a sound like one.

• The ship sirened loudly.
• The factory sirened a warning across the town.
• The alarm sirened into the night.

Similar words: sound an alarm, wail

Common phrases: siren loudly, siren a warning, siren into something

To drive a vehicle with its loud warning alarm switched on.

• The ambulance sirened past us.
• Police cars sirened through the traffic.
• The fire engine sirened down the main street.

Common phrases: siren through traffic, siren past someone, siren down something

Like the creatures in ancient stories whose beautiful singing attracted sailors into danger.

• Her siren voice drew him closer.
• The sea seemed to sing a siren song.
• He resisted the siren call of easy wealth.

Similar words: alluring, seductive, enticing

Common phrases: siren song, siren call, siren voice