siren

noun si·ren \ ˈsī-rən , for sense 3 also sī-ˈrēn \

Definition of siren

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

[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

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Examples of siren in a Sentence

the wailing of air-raid sirens
one of history's most famous sirens, Cleopatra charmed both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony

Recent Examples of siren from the Web

Prosecutors say Hegele, 34, drove 104 mph on Southern Boulevard, without using his lights and sirens, and repeatedly changed lanes, after his supervisors issued commands not to pursue a suspect car.

— marc freeman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Trial delayed for deputy in 104 mph crash while on duty," 28 Aug. 2017
Shay Mitchell This siren-red lip on Shay jumped out at me immediately.

— jennifer mulrow, Glamour, "Your Favorite Celebrity Makeup Artist Has an App, and I Followed His 3 Best Tutorials," 21 Aug. 2017
A sound similar to an air raid warning siren greeted visitors.

— carol wolfram, NOLA.com, "Monkeys on the North Shore: Vintage photos of Covington research facility," 31 July 2017
The Iranian boat approached within 150 yards of the Thunderbolt, which attempted to hail the boat with radio, and then fired flares and issued warning blasts from the ship's siren, an international signal of danger.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "U.S. Navy Ship Fires Warning Shots Over Iranian Boat," 25 July 2017
As dawn approached on a hot and sticky night, burglar alarms began clanging, adding to the bedlam of sirens, shouting and shattering glass.

— bill mcgraw, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit '67: 'We've got trouble' — Routine police raid ignites 5 days of rioting," 22 July 2017
Shortly after dawn most weekdays, a warning siren rips across the flat, swift water of the New River running alongside the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.

— krista stevens, Longreads, "Open Burning: A Banned Practice That’s Poisoning America," 21 July 2017
Despite damage to the starboard paddle box, the captain managed to steer the ship back to Dover, where its arrival was heralded by the sound of sirens from ships all over Dover Harbor.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "The True Story of Dunkirk, As Told Through the Heroism of the “Medway Queen”," 19 July 2017
He was treated by paramedics who took him away in an ambulance, without using lights or siren, the newspaper said.

— Bloomberg.com, "Spokeswoman: Jimmy Carter Out of Hospital After Rehydration," 14 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'siren.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The sirens were a group of partly human female creatures that lured sailors onto destructive rocks with their singing. Odysseus and his men encountered the sirens on their long journey home from Troy. The only way to sail by them safely was to make oneself deaf to their enchanting song, so Odysseus packed the men's ears with wax, while he himself, ever curious, kept his ears open but had himself tied to the mast to keep from flinging himself into the water or steering his ship toward sure destruction in his desire to see them. A siren today is a sinister but almost irresistible woman. A siren song, however, may be any appeal that lures a person to act against his or her better judgment.

Origin and Etymology of siren

Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French sereine, from Late Latin sirena, from Latin siren, from Greek seirēn

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

siren Synonyms

Synonyms

enchantress, femme fatale, seductress, temptress

Related Words

beguiler, charmer, seducer, vamp; sexpot, sex symbol

siren

adjective si·ren \ ˈsī-rən \

Definition of siren

:resembling that of a siren :enticing

First Known Use of siren

1568

SIREN Defined for English Language Learners

siren

noun

Definition of siren for English Language Learners

: a piece of equipment that produces a loud, high-pitched warning sound
: a woman who is very attractive but also dangerous
Siren : one of a group of female creatures in Greek mythology whose singing attracted sailors and caused them to sail into dangerous water or toward rocks