noun
Uncommon
siren
SEYE-uh-ruhn
Siren (noun) means a device that produces a loud, piercing warning sound, or the sound itself. Example: “The ambulance siren wailed as it raced through traffic.”
noun
1
A device that produces a loud, piercing warning sound, or the sound itself.
"The ambulance siren wailed as it raced through traffic."
2
A dangerously alluring woman, from the mythological creatures said to lure sailors to their doom with song.
"In the film, she plays a siren who lures the sailors to shore."
How to use siren
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a loud alarm sound, or (from myth) a seductive, dangerous woman.
Common pairings
siren wailed
siren song
police siren
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Word forms
- Plural
- sirens, sirenes
- Third person singular
- sirens
- Past tense
- sirened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ambulance _____ wailed as it raced through traffic.
Etymology
From Greek Σειρήν (Seirḗn), the mythological sea nymphs whose singing lured sailors to shipwreck, via Old French and Latin.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “siren” mean?
The word “siren” means a device that produces a loud, piercing warning sound, or the sound itself. In plain terms, either a loud alarm sound, or (from myth) a seductive, dangerous woman.
How do you pronounce “siren”?
“Siren” is pronounced SEYE-uh-ruhn (/ˈsaɪɹən/ in IPA).
How do you use “siren” in a sentence?
Here is “siren” used in a sentence: “The ambulance siren wailed as it raced through traffic.”
What part of speech is “siren”?
“Siren” is a noun.
Where does the word “siren” come from?
The word “siren” comes from Latin. From Greek Σειρήν (Seirḗn), the mythological sea nymphs whose singing lured sailors to shipwreck, via Old French and Latin.
Is “siren” a common word?
“Siren” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “siren” have?
“Siren” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a device that produces a loud, piercing warning sound, or the sound itself.
