siren
siren
Noun
pl: sirens
The term evokes a sharp contrast between auditory warning and seductive danger. In a modern context, it is associated with urgency, emergency, and the piercing noise of authority or rescue vehicles, creating a feeling of alertness or alarm.
In a mythological or metaphorical sense, it describes an irresistible but perilous attraction. This usage carries a heavy connotation of deception and inevitable ruin, where the beauty of the lure masks a lethal outcome.
Meanings
Nounsiren
A device that produces a loud, piercing sound used as a warning signal or to alert people to an emergency.
The ambulance siren wailed as it sped through the traffic.
Examples
The air raid siren signaled an immediate evacuation.
History