I. ˈsī-rən, for 3 also sī-ˈrēn noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French sereine, from Late Latin sirena, from Latin siren, from Greek seirēn
Date: 14th century
1. often capitalized : any of a group of female and partly human creatures in Greek mythology that lured mariners to destruction by their singing
2.
a. : a woman who sings with enchanting sweetness
b. : temptress
c. : temptation 2
3.
a. : an apparatus producing musical tones especially in acoustical studies by the rapid interruption of a current of air, steam, or fluid by a perforated rotating disk
b. : a device often electrically operated for producing a penetrating warning sound
an ambulance siren
an air-raid siren
4.
[New Latin, from Latin]
: either of two North American eel-shaped amphibians that constitute a genus ( Siren ) and have small forelimbs but neither hind legs nor pelvis and have permanent external gills as well as lungs
II. ˈsī-rən adjective
Date: 1568
: resembling that of a siren : enticing