Skip to main content
klaxon

klaxon

3 8.5
A loud electric horn used as a warning, often on vehicles
  • noun
  • /ˈklæk.sən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : klaxon
  • The loud klaxon alarm signaled the start of the emergency evacuation drill.
  • alarm klaxon
  • klaxon horn
  • klaxon blast

Examples

  • Twenty-four hours after the klaxon sounded, the satellite entered orbit around the moon.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Klaxons and alarms start to wail, and the lights flicker on and off.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • But any second, I just keep feeling like this... klaxon horn's gonna go off and it's "Man your battle stations."

  • With the blaring of the first klaxon, each crew allows their line to run until empty.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • "The lights suddenly dimmed, and a klaxon began sounding in the corridor."

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The station suddenly fills with the bellow of an alarm klaxon.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The alarm klaxons are ringing out as everyone rushes to battle stations.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The bots started moving, and after ten minutes, the crew awakened to klaxons and emergency lights.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Sirens flare up and klaxons wail across the base.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The klaxon's blaring squawk echoed across the water like the mating call of a monster gander.

    Fiction book (2001)

Synonyms

horn
vsklaxon
183 1.0

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

is the specific historic electric vehicle warning rather than general noisemakers
car horn
vsklaxon
6 1.1

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

is the historic electric type often used as a built-in warning signal
air horn
vsklaxon
1 3.0

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

is an electric type typically older, not powered by compressed air
claxon
vsklaxon
  • Archaic
1 9.3

A loud electric horn used on older cars

is the general term for that same electric warning device
automobile horn
vsklaxon
1 2.1

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

focuses on the earlier electric model used as a warning signal
motor horn
vsklaxon
2.7

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

refers to the historic electric warning type rather than any modern design

How Loud

air horn
1 3.0
siren
259 2.9
klaxon
  • Archaic
3 8.5
horn
183 1.0
bell
89 1.0
buzzer
104 1.0

Surface Forms

klaxon singular
klaxons plural

Etymology

Klaxon comes from an early brand name for a car horn that used the Greek word klazō meaning 'to shriek'. So a klaxon is easy to remember as a short, very loud 'shriek'—a horn or alarm that warns people.