Origin of siren
1300–50; Middle English
sereyn < Old French
sereine < Late Latin
Sīrēna, Latin
Sīrēn < Greek
Seirḗn
SYNONYMS FOR siren
OTHER WORDS FROM siren
si·ren·like, adjectiveWords nearby siren
siracusa,
siraj-ud-daula,
sirdar,
sire,
siree,
siren,
sirena,
sirenian,
sirenic,
sirenomelia,
sirens
Example sentences from the Web for sirens
British Dictionary definitions for sirens
siren
/ (ˈsaɪərən) /
noun
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
(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
- a woman considered to be dangerously alluring or seductive
- (as modifier)her siren charms
any aquatic eel-like salamander of the North American family Sirenidae, having external gills, no hind limbs, and reduced forelimbs
Word Origin for siren
C14: from Old French
sereine, from Latin
sīrēn, from Greek
seirēn
Cultural definitions for sirens
Sirens
In classical mythology, evil creatures who lived on a rocky island, singing in beautiful voices in an effort to lure sailors to shipwreck and death. Odysseus ordered his crew to plug their ears to escape the Sirens' fatal song.
notes for Sirens
Figuratively, a “siren” is a beautiful or tempting woman; a “siren song” is any irresistible distraction.