好词典

siren

UK //ˈsaɪ.rən//US //ˈsaɪ.rən//

词源

源自希腊神话中的海妖塞壬(Seirēn),通过拉丁语siren和古法语sereine传入英语,最初指神话生物,后引申为警报装置。

noun

❶ 指一种会发出响亮警报声的装置,常用于警车、救护车或消防车,用来提醒人们注意紧急情况。

“The ambulance sped past with its siren blaring.”

(救护车鸣着警笛疾驰而过。)

“We could hear the police sirens from several blocks away.”

(我们在几个街区外就能听到警笛声。)

❶ 在希腊神话中,指一种会用美妙歌声引诱水手触礁的海妖,常用来比喻危险但有诱惑力的事物。

“The sailors were lured by the siren's song onto the rocks.”

(水手们被海妖的歌声引诱撞上了礁石。)

“Her voice was like a siren's call, impossible to resist.”

(她的声音像海妖的呼唤,令人难以抗拒。)

同义词:alarm, warning signal, temptress, enchantress

verb

❶ 指像警笛一样发出响亮的声音,或像海妖一样具有强烈的吸引力。

“The tornado siren sirened throughout the town.”

(龙卷风警报器在整个城镇鸣响。)

“Her laughter sirened through the quiet room.”

(她的笑声像警笛一样划破了安静的房间。)

同义词:blare, beckon, lure

常见短语

siren song — 指极具诱惑力但可能带来危险的事物,源自希腊神话中海妖的歌声。

“The promise of quick money was a siren song that led him to make bad investments.”

(快速赚钱的承诺像海妖的歌声一样,导致他做出了糟糕的投资。)

siren call — 形容难以抗拒的吸引力,通常暗示这种吸引力可能带来负面后果。

“The siren call of fame made her sacrifice her privacy.”

(成名的强烈诱惑使她牺牲了自己的隐私。)