alarm-clock

Language: en

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A clock designed to make a loud sound or signal at a predetermined time, typically used to wake someone from sleep.; Any device or mechanism that produces an alert or warning signal at a specified time.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: alarm clocks

Collocations

set an alarm clockalarm clock goes offalarm clock ringswind up an alarm clockdigital alarm clock

Derivatives

alarmclockwork

Synonyms

alarmtimepiececlockbuzzer

Commonly confused

alarm
EN: 'Alarm' is the broader term referring to any warning signal or device; 'alarm clock' specifically refers to a clock designed to wake someone at a set time.

Spelling tips

EN: The standard form is 'alarm clock' (two separate words, no hyphen). The hyphenated form 'alarm-clock' is occasionally used as a compound modifier (e.g., 'alarm-clock mechanism') but is nonstandard as a standalone noun.

💬 Examples

  1. I set my alarm-clock for six in the morning so I wouldn't be late for work.

  2. The kitchen timer served as an alarm-clock to remind her to take the cake out of the oven.