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horn

horn

221 1.0
A device that makes a loud sound to warn or signal people
  • noun
  • /hɔrn/
: claxon
  • The car's horn blared loudly as a warning to the pedestrians crossing the street.
  • car horn
  • honk the horn
  • blow a horn

He honks the horn like a Wildman, right?

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Examples

  • As students listen, encourage them to try predicting when the car horn will sound.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Finally, he blew the truck's horn and was rewarded with a movement at one of the windows.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • You can hear me and I blow a boat horn and you react to it.

  • The person in the Jeep hit the horn as he pulled closer.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • In the center of the steering wheel you have the horn which sounds like this.

  • What are you honking the horn for?

  • The person driving this car honks the horn at me and rolls down their window slowly.

  • As I snuggled into the soft bed, the sounds of honking horns and police sirens continued into the night.

    Academic text (1998)
  • As firecrackers went off in all directions, cars circled, honking horns and blasting music.

    Academic text (2010)
  • At the celebration, the guests cheered and the air horn signaled the start of the festivities.

Synonyms

alarm
vshorn
721 1.0

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

is also used at parties and on vehicles for simple signaling not only emergencies
siren
vshorn
170 2.9

A machine that makes a loud wailing sound to warn people

is more general and includes brief signals as well as sustained alarms
bell
vshorn
97 1.0

A device that makes a sound to get someone's attention

is more specific meaning a loud warning or party signal rather than any alert
whistle
vshorn
27 1.0

A small device you blow into to make a high sound and get attention

is louder and used for wider warnings or parties than small blown instruments
alarm bell
vshorn
18 2.2

A bell that rings to warn people of danger or an emergency

is the wider noisy signaling device used for warnings and celebrations too
car horn
vshorn
9 1.1

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

is broader and used also on vehicles and at parties for warning or celebration
air horn
vshorn
4 3.0

A loud horn that uses compressed air to make a strong sound on trucks or ships

uses many forms for loud signals and is not limited to compressed air types
hooter
vshorn
  • UK
4 6.2

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

is wider and used beyond vehicles for signaling or celebration
noisemaker
vshorn
4 3.3

A small object you blow or shake to make a loud sound at parties

is also used for warnings and vehicle signaling, not only for parties
klaxon
vshorn
  • Archaic
2 8.5

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

is the general loud warning device rather than a specific historic electric type
warning bell
vshorn
2 2.7

A bell that rings to warn people of danger

is a broader loud signaling device that also covers vehicles and parties
1 2.1

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

is broader and used also outside road contexts like parties and events
claxon
vshorn
  • Archaic
1 9.3

A loud electric horn used on older cars

is the broader category for loud signaling devices beyond that specific sound
chrome horn
vshorn
1 8.2

A shiny metal thing on a car or truck that makes a loud sound and looks decorative

is the plain functional device for warnings rather than a decorative version
motor horn
vshorn
2.7

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

is more general and covers vehicle signals as well as party noisemaking

Idioms

on the horn
  • Informal
24 8.9

To talk to someone on the phone

off the horn
  • Informal
1 9.4

To call someone and talk informally by phone

1 7.5

To talk proudly about things you have done

To sail around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America, often in dangerous weather

Compounds

9 1.1

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

9 4.2

A metal wind instrument with a long coiled tube that makes a warm, rounded sound

A region in northeast Africa that includes Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and eastern Ethiopia

4 3.0

A loud horn that uses compressed air to make a strong sound on trucks or ships

4 5.5

Having frames for glasses made of horn or dark plastic

A horn filled with fruit and grain to show plenty

saddle horn
  • Specialized
1 5.8

High rounded front part of a Western saddle that riders use to hold a rope or grip

powder horn
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A hollow animal horn for carrying gunpowder in the past

1 6.1

A woodwind instrument like an oboe that has a lower, warm sound

dorsal horn
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A part at the back of the spinal cord that receives signals from nerves for touch and pain

post horn
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A small brass instrument like a trumpet that coach drivers use to signal when a coach arrives or leaves

1 8.1

A river that flows from northern Wyoming into the Bighorn River in southern Montana known for Custer's Last Stand

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

A brass instrument like a small tuba that makes a warm low sound

1 2.7

A button in a vehicle you press to make a loud noise to warn others

1 9.9

A flowering plant with long beak-like white or yellow flowers marked with purple

1 9.9

A yellow wild plant with long seed pods that grows on sandy coasts

bass horn
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A brass instrument with a very low sound used in orchestras and bands

horn fly
  • Specialized
1 9.8

A small black fly that sucks blood from cows near their horns

1 8.2

A shiny metal thing on a car or truck that makes a loud sound and looks decorative

basset horn
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A low clarinet that plays lower notes than the B-flat clarinet and is used in orchestras and chamber music

anterior horn
  • Specialized
1 9.3

The front part of the spinal cord that contains nerve cells controlling muscles

air horn
  • Archaic
6.0

The part of a carburetor where air enters before mixing with fuel

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

A plant with upright yellow, trumpet-shaped tubes that catch insects

posterior horn
  • Specialized
9.5

Back part of the spinal cord that receives signals from the body about touch and pain

A large branching coral shaped like deer antlers that grows on shallow tropical reefs

ventral horn
  • Specialized
8.7

Front part of the spinal cord that has nerve cells sending signals to muscles

How Loud

air horn
4 3.0
siren
170 2.9
horn
221 1.0
bell
4 1.0
buzzer
66 1.0

Surface Forms

horn singular
horns plural

Etymology

Horn for a loud warning or signal comes from blowing an animal horn to call people or warn them, which is why a car horn or party horn makes a sharp sound to get attention.