smoke alarm

IPA/ˈsməʊk əlɑːm/
IPA/ˈsməʊk əlɑːrm/

smoke alarm — noun

1. a safety device mounted on a ceiling or wall that produces a piercing beep when

1.名詞A2
釋義

a safety device mounted on a ceiling or wall that produces a piercing beep when it detects smoke, warning people inside a building to get out because there may be a fire

例句

The smoke alarm in the kitchen went off when Michael burned the toast.

go off — phrasal verb for alarm activation

Beatrix replaced the battery in the smoke alarm every spring.

replace the battery — routine maintenance collocation

同義詞
  • smoke detector

    more common in British English; emphasises the detection function rather than the warning sound

  • fire alarm

    broader term that can include heat detectors and manual pull stations; often used for the whole building alert system

  • fire detector

    more technical term, less common in household settings

文法句型

usually [a/the + ~]

用法筆記

Frequently appears with the phrasal verb 'go off' (the alarm activates because it detects smoke). The opposite — an alarm that fails to activate — is described as 'failed to go off' or 'did not go off'.

常見錯誤

The smoke alarm cried when there was smoke.
The smoke alarm went off when there was smoke.
💡'go off' is the natural English phrase for an alarm starting to sound.