car horn
6
1.1
- noun
- /kɑr hɔrn/
:
claxon
- As the parade passed, the car horns blared, creating a festive atmosphere.
- car horn honks
- car horn blares
- car horn beeps
We can't even honk a car horn without fear of an enraged narcissistic driver assaulting us.
- We can't even honk a car horn without fear of an enraged narcissistic driver assaulting us.
Examples
-
Dad was leaning on the car horn, getting impatient.
Fiction book (1997) -
The loud sound of the car horn startled everyone crossing the street.
-
I stay there for the last hour until the sound of my mother's car horn calls us from the field.
Fiction book (2000) -
There was a horrible sound of metal on metal and the long depression of a car horn.
Fiction book (1998) -
And I head back out into the chaos and car horns of Fifth Avenue.
Blog text (32) -
I didn't hear a car horn for the entire time I was there.
-
Somewhere a long way off, a car horn honked.
Fiction book (1998) -
We hear the blaring of car horns and the squeal of brakes.
Fiction book (2001) -
Outside, the garbage truck creaked, car horns honked, and a taxi driver screamed.
Fiction book (1998) -
Surrounded by pedestrians in constant motion, gleaming SUVs, and run-down taxis, we are assaulted by car horns and gasoline vapors.
Academic text (2011)
Synonyms
183
1.0
A device that makes a loud sound to warn or signal people
3
8.5
A loud electric horn used as a warning, often on vehicles
1
6.2
A part of a vehicle that makes a loud sound to warn people
1
3.0
A loud horn that uses compressed air to make a strong sound on trucks or ships
1
2.1
A device on a car that makes a loud sound to warn people
1
9.3
A loud electric horn used on older cars
A part on a vehicle that makes a loud sound to warn people
A shiny metal thing on a car or truck that makes a loud sound and looks decorative
How Loud
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'car' (motor vehicle) with 'horn' (a device that emits a warning sound): it denotes the horn that belongs to or is mounted on a car. This simple noun–noun compounding is cross-linguistically common and follows standard English composition, so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand it.
Etymology
The name car horn comes from early cars that used a loud horn, often an animal horn or a simple metal trumpet, to call out to people. Because drivers used it to 'warn' or 'get attention', car horn now means the warning sound in a car.