alarm clock
alarm clock
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "alarm clock" is /əˈlɑːrm klɒk/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
a-: /ə/ (schwa, like the 'a' in "about")
-larm: /lɑːrm/ (like "larm" in "farm")
clock: /klɒk/ (like "klock" in "block")
Word Form Variations
Singular: alarm clock
Plural: alarm clocks
Gerund (acting as a noun): alarm clocking (less common, but possible in specific contexts, e.g., "The constant alarm clocking was getting on my nerves.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
NOUN
Definition 1: A device, typically electronic or mechanical, designed to emit a loud sound or signal at a pre-set time, primarily used to awaken a person from sleep or to alert them to a scheduled event.
Synonyms: alarm, timepiece, wake-up call, reveille (historical/military context)
Antonyms: lullaby, sleeping aid, sedative
Definition 2: (Figurative) An event, situation, or realization that serves as a wake-up call, prompting an individual or group to address an urgent issue or change their behavior.
Synonyms: catalyst, jolt, impetus, warning sign, eye-opener
Antonyms: complacency, inertia, status quo, slumber
VERB
Definition 1: (alarm clock) To set or activate an alarm clock for a specific time. (Often used informally as a phrasal verb "to alarm clock someone/something" or "to alarm clock oneself").
Example: "I need to alarm clock myself for 6 AM tomorrow."
Synonyms: set an alarm, program, schedule, activate
Antonyms: deactivate, turn off, disable, snooze (in the context of stopping the alarm from sounding)
Examples of Use
Books: "The insistent ringing of his alarm clock dragged him from a deep, dreamless sleep, signaling the start of another mundane workday." (From The Midnight Library by Matt Haig)
Newspapers: "Many commuters found themselves scrambling this morning after a widespread power outage rendered their electronic alarm clocks useless." (From The Daily Chronicle)
Online Publications: "Smart speakers are increasingly replacing traditional alarm clocks in bedrooms, offering voice-activated wake-up calls and integrated smart home features." (From an article on TechCrunch.com)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): In the movie Groundhog Day, the repeating sound of the alarm clock is a central plot device, signifying Phil Connors' endless loop of the same day. (Film release, February 1993)
Entertainment Platforms (Television): A character on a popular sitcom jokes, "My cat is my alarm clock; she starts meowing precisely five minutes before my actual alarm." (From an episode of Abbott Elementary, Season 3, April 2024)
General Public Discourse: "I really struggle to get up in the mornings; I need about three different alarm clocks just to make sure I don't oversleep." (Heard in a casual conversation)
General Public Discourse (Figurative Use): "The latest report on climate change should serve as an alarm clock for policymakers around the world; we can't afford to ignore these warnings any longer." (Comment on a news forum)
10 Quotes Using Alarm Clock
"I don't need an alarm clock. My ideas wake me." (Ray Bradbury)
"Work is a necessity for man. Man invented the alarm clock." (Pablo Picasso)
"Morning comes whether you set the alarm or not." (Ursula K. Le Guin)
"Discipline starts every day when the first alarm clock goes off in the morning." (Jocko Willink)
"How in the hell could a man enjoy being awakened at 8:30 a.m. by an alarm clock, leap out of bed, dress, force-feed, shit, piss, brush teeth and hair, and fight traffic to get to a place where essentially you made lots of money for somebody else and were asked to be grateful for the opportunity to do so?" (Charles Bukowski)
"You will find the key to success under the alarm clock." (Benjamin Franklin)
"I have an old tape of Carlo Maria Giulini conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in a perfectly transcendent version in Shubert's seventh symphony. And I've rigged it up so that at exactly 7:30 every morning it falls from the ceiling onto my face." (Stephen Fry, referring to his "alarm clock")
"My cat is my alarm clock; she starts meowing precisely five minutes before my actual alarm." (Attributed to a character on Abbott Elementary)
"Alarm clocks are the bane of humanity. Sleep inertia, the decline in motor dexterity, subjective feeling of grogginess, and impaired state of awareness and mental performance is normal after awakening from even a light sleep." (Kilroy J. Oldster)
"The most disturbing sound in the world comes from the alarm clock at 5:30am." (Munia Khan)
Etymology
The word "alarm clock" is a combination of two older words, "alarm" and "clock," each with its own history.
Let's break it down:
Alarm: This part of the word comes from the Old French "alarme," which itself came from the Italian phrase "all'arme!" This literally means "to arms!" or "to your weapons!" It was originally a shout or cry used to warn soldiers of an approaching enemy, telling them to grab their weapons and get ready for a fight. Over time, this meaning expanded to mean any signal or sound that warns of danger or calls people to action. It could be a bell, a drum, or any loud noise. The earliest known use of "alarm" in English, referring to a warning signal, dates back to around 1400.
Clock: This word has a slightly different origin. It comes from the Middle English "clokke," which probably came from the Middle Dutch "klocke" or Old North French "cloque," both meaning "bell." This makes sense because early clocks, especially in churches or public places, often used bells to mark the hours.
So, when you put them together, "alarm clock" literally means a "warning bell" or a "warning timepiece." The first known use of the combined term "alarm clock" appeared in the mid-1600s, specifically in 1662. At that time, it referred to a clock specifically designed to make a sound at a set time, primarily to wake someone up or alert them to something important. This was a natural evolution from the general "alarm" (a warning sound) to a specific device that produces that warning sound at a predetermined time.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Alarm Clock
Alarm clock goes off: (Standard phrase) To sound at the set time.
Example: "My alarm clock goes off at 6 AM every day."
Snooze the alarm clock: (Common action) To temporarily stop the alarm from sounding.
Example: "I always hit snooze on my alarm clock at least three times."
Beat the alarm clock: (Informal) To wake up before the alarm sounds.
Example: "I woke up early today; I actually beat the alarm clock."
Your internal alarm clock: (Figurative) Referring to one's natural body rhythm for waking.
Example: "After years of early starts, my internal alarm clock is pretty good."
A figurative alarm clock: (Idiomatic) Something that serves as a wake-up call or warning.
Example: "The company's declining sales were a figurative alarm clock for management."
The alarm bell rings/goes off: (Idiomatic, using synonym "alarm bell") A clear sign that something is wrong or needs attention.
Example: "When the stock market started to drop, the alarm bells went off for many investors."
Sound the alarm: (Idiomatic, using synonym "alarm") To warn people about a danger or problem.
Example: "The scientists began to sound the alarm about the spreading virus."
Wake-up call: (Idiomatic, using synonym "wake-up call") An event that makes someone realize they need to change.
Example: "Losing his job was a real wake-up call for him."
Like clockwork: (Idiomatic, related to "clock") Happening with precise regularity.
Example: " Every morning, the birds start singing like clockwork."
Counting down the clock: (Idiomatic, related to "clock") Waiting eagerly for a specific time or event to arrive.
Example: "We're all just counting down the clock until the weekend."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of alarm clock from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
