What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Buzzer vs Alarm - What's the difference?

buzzer | alarm |

As nouns the difference between buzzer and alarm

is that buzzer is one who, or that which, buzzes; an insect that buzzes while alarm is a summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.

As a verb alarm is

to call to arms for defense.

buzzer

English

(wikipedia buzzer)

Noun

(en noun)
  • One who, or that which, buzzes; an insect that buzzes.
  • * Shakespeare
    • And wants not buzzers to infect his ear / With pestilent speeches of his father's death.
  • *
  • A device that makes a buzzing sound.
  • :* If you think you know the answer to the question, hit the buzzer as fast as you can.
  • A police badge.
  • * 1939 , (Raymond Chandler), The Big Sleep , Penguin 2011, p. 28:
    • I flipped my wallet open on her desk and let her look at the buzzer pinned to the flap.

    alarm

    English

    Alternative forms

    * alarum

    Noun

  • A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
    • ''Arming to answer in a night alarm . --Shakespeare.
  • Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warning sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
    • ''Sound an alarm in my holy mountain. --Joel ii. 1.
  • A sudden attack; disturbance.
  • * Shakespeare
    • these home alarms
  • * Alexander Pope
    • thy palace fill with insults and alarms
  • Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by apprehension of danger; in the military use, commonly, sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise.
    • ''Alarm and resentment spread throughout the camp. --.
  • A mechanical device for awaking people, or rousing their attention.
    • ''The clockradio is a friendlier version of the cold alarm by the bedside
  • An instance of an alarum ringing or clanging, to give a noise signal at a certain time.
    • ''You should set the alarm on your watch to go off at seven o'clock.

    Related terms

    * alarm bell * alarm clock * alarm reaction * fire alarm * raise the alarm

    See also

    * tocsin

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To call to arms for defense
  • To give (someone) notice of approaching danger
  • To rouse to vigilance and action; to put on the alert.
  • To surprise with apprehension of danger; to fill with anxiety in regard to threatening evil; to excite with sudden fear.
  • To keep in excitement; to disturb.

    • Related terms

    * alarming * alarmist

    References

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----