6 PHRASE If you say that something sets alarm bells ringing, you mean that it makes people feel worried or concerned about something.
7 PHRASE If you raise the alarm or sound the alarm , you warn people of danger. □ His family raised the alarm when he had not come home by 9pm. SYNONYMS alarm NOUN 1
fear: I was sitting on the floor shivering with fear.
panic: An earthquake hit the capital, causing panic among the population.
anxiety: An earthquake hit the capital, causing panic among the population.
dread: She thought with dread of the cold winters to come. VERB 2
frighten: Most children are frightened by the sight of blood.
scare: You're scaring me.
startle: The telephone startled him. COLLOCATIONS alarm NOUN
1
adjective + alarm : unnecessary, widespread
verb + alarm : cause, express
3
noun + alarm : intruder, panic, rape, security
verb + alarm : activate, set, sound, trigger; fit, install
ala rm clock (alarm clocks ) N‑COUNT An alarm clock is a clock that you can set to make a noise so that it wakes you up at a particular time. □ I set my alarm clock for 4.30.
alarmed /əlɑː r md/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If someone is alarmed , they feel afraid or anxious that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen. □ [+ by/at ] They should not be too alarmed by the press reports.
alarm|ing /əlɑː r m I ŋ/ ADJ Something that is alarming makes you feel afraid or anxious that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen. □ The disease has spread at an alarming rate. ● alarm|ing|ly ADV □ …the alarmingly high rate of heart disease.
alarm|ist /əlɑː r m I st/ ADJ Someone or something that is alarmist causes unnecessary fear or anxiety that something unpleasant or dangerous is going to happen. □ Contrary to the more alarmist reports, he is not going to die.
alas /əlæ s/ ADV You use alas to say that you think that the facts you are talking about are sad or unfortunate. [FORMAL , FEELINGS ] □ Such scandals have not, alas, been absent. □ Alas, it's not that simple.
Al|ba|nian /ælbe I niən/ (Albanians )
1 ADJ Albanian means belonging or relating to Albania, its people, language, or culture. □ Her parents were Albanian. □ …the Albanian coast.
2 N‑COUNT An Albanian is a person who comes from Albania.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Albanian is the language spoken by people who live in Albania.
al|ba|tross /æ lbətrɒs, [AM ] -trɔːs/ (albatrosses )
1 N‑COUNT An albatross is a very large white seabird.
2 N‑COUNT If you describe something or someone as an albatross around your neck, you mean that they cause you great problems from which you cannot escape, or they prevent you from doing what you want to do. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Privatization could become a political albatross for the ruling party.
al|be|it /ɔːlbiː I t/ ADV You use albeit to introduce a fact or comment which reduces the force or significance of what you have just said. [FORMAL ] □ Charles's letter was indeed published, albeit in a somewhat abbreviated form.
al|bi|no /ælbiː noʊ, [AM ] -ba I n-/ (albinos ) N‑COUNT An albino is a person or animal with very white skin, white hair, and pink eyes. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Albino is also an adjective. □ …an albino rabbit.
al|bum ◆◆◇ /æ lbəm/ (albums )
1 N‑COUNT An album is a collection of songs that is available for download, or as a CD or record. You can also refer to the CD or record as an album . □ Chris likes music and has a large collection of albums.
2 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] An album is a book in which you keep things such as photographs or stamps that you have collected. □ Theresa showed me her photo album. COLLOCATIONS album NOUN
1
noun + album : concept, compilation, solo, tribute; debut; comeback
adjective + album : forthcoming, upcoming; acclaimed, best-selling, platinum, well-received; new, latest
verb + album : produce, record; promote, release
2
noun + album : photo
al|bu|min /æ lbjʊm I n, [AM ] ælbjuː m I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Albumin is a protein that is found in blood plasma, egg white, and some other substances.
al|chemi|cal /ælke m I k ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Alchemical means relating to the science of alchemy. □ …alchemical experiments.
al|che|mist /æ lkəm I st/ (alchemists ) N‑COUNT An alchemist was a scientist in the Middle Ages who tried to discover how to change ordinary metals into gold.
al|che|my /æ lkəmi/ N‑UNCOUNT Alchemy was a form of chemistry studied in the Middle Ages, which was concerned with trying to discover ways to change ordinary metals into gold.
al|co|hol ◆◇◇ /æ lkəhɒl, [AM ] -hɔːl/ (alcohols )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Drinks that can make people drunk, such as beer, wine, and whisky, can be referred to as alcohol . □ Do either of you smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol?
2 N‑VAR Alcohol is a colourless liquid that is found in drinks such as beer, wine, and whisky. It is also used in products such as perfumes and cleaning fluids. □ …low-alcohol beer.