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Glite Dictionary
diaphone

diaphone

9.9
A foghorn that makes two different sounds to warn ships in fog
  • noun
  • /ˈdaɪəˌfoʊn/
  • Archaic
translation icon : diáfono
  • As the fog rolled in, the deep blast of the diaphone echoed across the harbor.

Examples

  • The lighthouse was equipped with a powerful diaphone to warn ships during foggy nights.

  • Maritime authorities activated the diaphone during poor visibility to ensure the safety of passing vessels.

  • The diaphone sounded loudly across the harbor.

  • Many ships rely on a diaphone for safety.

  • The ship used a diaphone to alert nearby boats as it entered the foggy harbor.

  • During the storm, the coastal diaphone warned sailors with its distinctive two-tone signal.

  • The diaphone sounded twice, indicating that it was safe for vessels to navigate through the dense fog.

Synonyms

siren
vsdiaphone
259 2.9

A machine that makes a loud wailing sound to warn people

uses two distinct tones for maritime warning instead of a continuous wail
horn
vsdiaphone
183 1.0

A device that makes a loud sound to warn or signal people

is a maritime specific form used for ship warnings rather than general signals
foghorn
vsdiaphone
8 4.6

A loud, low horn that warns ships in fog

produces a two tone signal rather than a single low blast
klaxon
vsdiaphone
  • Archaic
3 8.5

A loud electric horn used as a warning, often on vehicles

is used at sea for maritime warnings rather than on vehicles
fogsignal
vsdiaphone
  • Specialized
8.3

A loud low sound that warns ships in thick fog

is a specific form that uses two distinct tones for ship warning

Surface Forms

diaphone singular
diaphones plural

Morphology

diaphone = phone (semi-transparent) = dia + phone

The element 'phone' clearly signals sound or a sound-producing device, but 'dia-' is a less familiar combining form to many learners so the exact sense ('through sound' or specific technical meaning) is not fully predictable.

Etymology

Diaphone comes from Greek parts dia- 'through' and -phone 'sound', the same -phone you find in telephone. So a diaphone is like a 'sound that carries through', a very loud foghorn whose strong two-tone blast travels far to warn ships.