SIREN


Meaning of SIREN in English

/ ˈsaɪrən; NAmE / noun

1.

a device that makes a long loud sound as a signal or warning :

an air-raid siren

A police car raced past with its siren wailing.

2.

(in ancient Greek stories) any of a group of sea creatures that were part woman and part bird, or part woman and part fish, whose beautiful singing made sailors sail towards them into rocks or dangerous waters

3.

a woman who is very attractive or beautiful but also dangerous

4.

siren voices / song / call ( literary ) the temptation to do sth that seems very attractive but that will have bad results :

The government must resist the siren voices calling for tax cuts.

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WORD ORIGIN

Middle English (denoting an imaginary type of snake): from Old French sirene , from late Latin Sirena , feminine of Latin Siren , from Greek Seirēn .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.