siren
Americannoun
-
Classical Mythology. one of several sea nymphs, part woman and part bird, who lure mariners to destruction by their seductive singing.
-
a seductively beautiful or charming woman, especially one who beguiles men.
a siren of the silver screen.
- Synonyms:
- vamp, temptress, seductress
-
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.
-
an implement of this kind used as a whistle, fog signal, or warning device.
-
any of several aquatic, eellike salamanders of the family Sirenidae, having permanent external gills, small forelimbs, and no posterior limbs.
adjective
-
of or like a siren.
-
seductive or tempting, especially dangerously or harmfully.
the siren call of adventure.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
-
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
-
(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
-
-
a woman considered to be dangerously alluring or seductive
-
( as modifier )
her siren charms
-
-
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
Etymology
Origin of siren
1300–50; Middle English sereyn < Old French sereine < Late Latin Sīrēna, Latin Sīrēn < Greek Seirḗn
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Woken by huge bangs and wailing siren," he texted.
From BBC
While in Tel Aviv on Sunday, AFP journalists heard sirens signalling an incoming missile attack from Iran, prompting dozens of people nearby to run for cover in a nearby shelter.
From Barron's
But she considers herself lucky, she said, as she would usually head to the public shelter when air raid sirens ring.
From Barron's
Gravitational waves can also be used to estimate distances through what is known as the standard siren method.
From Science Daily
In the commercial hub of Tel Aviv, Orit Baisa, 42, rushed to an underground car park as soon as he heard the air raid sirens warning of an incoming missile barrage.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
