Usage Note
Alarme covers both the device (a fire alarm, a car alarm) and the feeling of alarm or alert: donner l'alarme means 'to raise the alarm'. The related verb is alarmer ('to alarm, to worry'). Fausse alarme ('false alarm') is used figuratively just as in English.
Examples
"L'alarme s'est déclenchée au milieu de la nuit."
Natural Translation
The alarm went off in the middle of the night.

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