noun
klaxon
KLAK-suhn
Klaxon (noun) means a loud electric horn or alarm, especially the type once used on early cars and emergency vehicles. Example: “A klaxon blared as the factory shift changed.”
noun
1
A loud electric horn or alarm, especially the type once used on early cars and emergency vehicles.
"A klaxon blared as the factory shift changed."
"Irenka was up front using the lavatory when the lights in the cabin went red and the klaxon sounded over the speakers."
— Brad R. Torgersen, Outbound (2010)
verb
1
To sound a loud horn-like alarm.
"Suffering. It was like a great discordant symphony ringing out from the world; like a klaxoning of a million million cracked bells."
— John Shirley (2005)
"The security van klaxoned as it reversed out of the yard."
How to use klaxon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA loud horn-style alarm, or the sound it makes.
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Word forms
- Plural
- klaxons
- Third person singular
- klaxons
- Past tense
- klaxoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ blared as the factory shift changed.
Etymology
Originally a trademark, from a Greek verb meaning "to make a sharp sound." An American manufacturer registered it in the early 1900s for the loud horns fitted to early automobiles, and the name eventually became a generic word for any similar alarm.
Class of 1900
klaxon joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
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claxon
Related words
Rhymes for klaxon
See all rhymes for klaxon →Frequently asked questions
What does “klaxon” mean?
The word “klaxon” means a loud electric horn or alarm, especially the type once used on early cars and emergency vehicles. In plain terms, a loud horn-style alarm, or the sound it makes.
How do you pronounce “klaxon”?
“Klaxon” is pronounced KLAK-suhn (/ˈklæksən/ in IPA).
How do you use “klaxon” in a sentence?
Here is “klaxon” used in a sentence: “A klaxon blared as the factory shift changed.”
What part of speech is “klaxon”?
Depending on how it is used, “klaxon” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “klaxon” come from?
The word “klaxon” dates back to around 1900 and comes from Greek.
How many meanings does “klaxon” have?
“Klaxon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a loud electric horn or alarm, especially the type once used on early cars and emergency vehicles.
