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fire bell

fire bell

2 2.0
A bell that rings to warn people about a fire
  • noun
translation icon : campana de incendios
  • When the fire bell went off, everyone quickly gathered at the designated meeting point outside.
  • ring the fire bell
  • the fire bell sounds

Examples

  • The fire bell was clanging, and Emma caught the acrid scent of smoke.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • During the drill, the fire bell rang loudly, signaling everyone to evacuate the building safely.

  • Give me the fire bell.

  • The faces began to turn away, looking toward the sound, the fire bell.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Excuse me, gentlemen... in a few moments the fire bell will ring, but don't pay any attention to it.

  • Before you answered the call of children who need you, like an old Dalmatian at the sound of the fire bell.

    Blog text (30)
  • The fire bell

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The fire bell sounds.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • By the time the hearing ended, a mob had gathered in the town center, and someone in the crowd began to ring the fire bell as a signal to commence a march to the city jail.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Two fire horses, excited by the frenzied clanging of the fire bell, had snapped a harness as they dashed from the station.

    Blog text (28)

Synonyms

siren
vsfire bell
259 2.9

A machine that makes a loud wailing sound to warn people

is a short local ringing used to warn about a close blaze
buzzer
vsfire bell
104 1.0

A small machine that makes a low, repeating sound to tell people something

is a louder ringing signal used for a nearby blaze warning
bell
vsfire bell
89 1.0

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

is used specifically to warn people about a local blaze emergency
fire alarm
vsfire bell
31 1.0

A loud signal that warns people there is a fire or smoke

is the ringing alert for a specific blaze situation
alarm bell
vsfire bell
7 2.2

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

is mainly used to warn people of a building blaze
warning device
vsfire bell
1 3.7

A tool that makes a loud sound or bright light to tell people there is danger

is the device used only for warning about a local blaze
warning bell
vsfire bell
1 2.7

A bell that rings to warn people of danger

is used specifically to warn people about a nearby blaze

How Loud

siren
259 2.9
fire bell
2 2.0
bell
221 1.0
handbell
1 4.3

Surface Forms

fire bell singular
fire bells plural

Morphology

fire + bell

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'fire' (a burning event) with 'bell' (a ringing device): the compound denotes a bell used to signal a fire. This is a straightforward noun+noun compound following common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Fire bell is a literal bell rung to warn people when there is a fire. The image of a loud bell calling people out and calling helpers explains why it means 'a bell that is rung to alert people to the presence of a fire'.