smoke alarm
13
2.2
- noun
- /smoʊk əˈlɑrm/
:
detector de humo
- Over the incessant buzz of the smoke alarm, I screamed to Julian to stay out in the street with Arch.
- smoke alarm malfunction
- working smoke alarm
- missing smoke alarms
Examples
-
Install smoke alarms on every level of the house and inside bedrooms.
Blog text (15) -
Ed looks up at the smoke alarm.
Fiction book (2000) -
I think it's my smoke alarm.
-
This morning the smoke alarm went off.
-
Ladies and gentlemen, a smoke alarm went off in one of the rooms, but the problem has been taken care of.
-
Have you checked the batteries in the smoke alarm lately?
Blog text (15) -
The smoke alarm at the back of the house was shrieking.
Academic text (2010) -
There are smoke alarms throughout my house and an expensive burglar alarm system.
Fiction book (1990) -
"I have two smoke alarms as well as a fire extinguisher underneath my sink in the kitchen," she said.
Blog text (30) -
This morning the smoke alarm went off, alerting us to the fire in the kitchen.
Synonyms
31
1.0
A loud signal that warns people there is a fire or smoke
How Protective
- Specialized
8
3.2
13
2.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a device that detects smoke and sounds an alarm' is directly and transparently built from 'smoke' (visible combustion products) + 'alarm' (a warning device). This noun–noun compound follows a common compositional pattern found across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The noun smoke alarm comes from the clear image of smoke and alarm: a small device that notices smoke and makes a loud sound to warn people. Because it literally detects smoke and raises a warning, the name now means 'a device that warns of a possible fire'.