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hooter

hooter

1 6.2
A part of a vehicle that makes a loud sound to warn people
  • noun
  • /ˈhuːtər/
  • UK
translation icon : claxon
  • During the race, the official sounded the hooter to signal the end of the event.

Examples

  • I say, what's that chap honking his hooter for?

  • Hear that hooter!

  • A slight squeeze on the hooter is an excellent safety precaution.

  • If there's trouble, put your foot on the accelerator and your finger on the hooter and get help.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • When the pedestrian stepped into the street, the driver honked the hooter to alert him.

  • If you see a car approaching too fast, it’s wise to sound your hooter to warn others.

Synonyms

horn
vshooter
183 1.0

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

is specifically a vehicle warning device rather than a general signal
car horn
vshooter
6 1.1

A loud sound a driver makes to warn others or get attention

is the general vehicle device name rather than the car-specific term
tooter
vshooter
2 7.2

A person or device that blows a short sharp sound with a horn

is used for vehicle-mounted loud warnings rather than short whistles
automobile horn
vshooter
1 2.1

A device on a car that makes a loud sound to warn people

is the everyday name for that vehicle warning device
motor horn
vshooter
2.7

A part on a vehicle that makes a loud sound to warn people

is the common everyday term for that same vehicle device
Hooters
vshooter
7.8

Loud horns or sirens that warn people by hooting

is focused on the vehicle warning device rather than all hooting signals

Antonyms

45 1.0

A calm time with little or no sound

How Loud

siren
259 2.9
air horn
1 3.0
hooter
  • UK
1 6.2
horn
183 1.0
buzzer
104 1.0

Surface Forms

hooter singular
hooters plural

Morphology

hooter = hoot (transparent) = hoot + er

A car horn is straightforwardly something that hoots or makes a loud warning noise.

Etymology

Hooter for a vehicle 'horn' comes from the sound it makes: hoot plus the ending -er to mean 'the thing that hoots'. So a hooter is simply a horn that gives a loud 'hoot' to warn or get attention.