siren

[ sahy-ruhn ]

noun

1. Classical Mythology. one of several sea nymphs, part woman and part bird, who lure mariners to destruction by their seductive singing.
2. a seductively beautiful or charming woman, especially one who beguiles men:

   a siren of the silver screen.

   Synonyms: vamp, temptress, seductress

3. an acoustical instrument for producing musical tones, consisting essentially of a disk pierced with holes arranged equidistantly in a circle, rotated over a jet or stream of compressed air, steam, or the like, so that the stream is alternately interrupted and allowed to pass.
4. an implement of this kind used as a whistle, fog signal, or warning device.
5. any of several aquatic, eellike salamanders of the family Sirenidae, having permanent external gills, small forelimbs, and no posterior limbs.

adjective

1. of or like a siren.
2. seductive or tempting, especially dangerously or harmfully:

   the siren call of adventure.

verb (used without object)

1. to go with the siren sounding, as a fire engine.

verb (used with object)

1. to allure in the manner of a siren.

siren

/ ˈsaɪərən /

noun

1. a device for emitting a loud wailing sound, esp as a warning or signal, typically consisting of a rotating perforated metal drum through which air or steam is passed under pressure
2. sometimes capital Greek myth one of several sea nymphs whose seductive singing was believed to lure sailors to destruction on the rocks the nymphs inhabited
3. 1. a woman considered to be dangerously alluring or seductive
   2. ( as modifier )

      her siren charms

4. any aquatic eel-like salamander of the North American family Sirenidae, having external gills, no hind limbs, and reduced forelimbs

Other Words From

• siren·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of siren¹

1300–50; Middle English sereyn < Old French sereine < Late Latin Sīrēna, Latin Sīrēn < Greek Seirḗn

Word History and Origins

Origin of siren¹

C14: from Old French sereine, from Latin sīrēn, from Greek seirēn

Example Sentences

Just last week, Ukrainian protesters interrupted a speech by Yulia Navalnaya in Lisbon, playing the sound of air raid sirens and demanding that she condemn the war, which she did.

From BBC

Every night, Ukrainians go to sleep to notifications pinging on their phones, as inbound drones crisscross the country, setting sirens blaring.

From BBC

So she has some advice for journalists tempted by the burden of having bosses to “just go independent,” enticed, say, by the siren call of freelancing: “Just do a substack! It’s the future of journalism.”

From Los Angeles Times

Minutes later, sirens can be heard as police arrive on scene at the intersection of State College Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Donnelly told BBC News NI he performed CPR as he waited for the ambulance and that he could hear sirens in the background.

From BBC