| alarm | 1. A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. "Arming to answer in a night alarm." (Shak) 2. Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching danger; a warming sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger. "Sound an alarm in my holy mountain." (Joel II. 1) 3. A sudden attack; disturbance; broil. "These home alarms." "Thy palace fill with insults and alarms." (Pope) 4. Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by apprehension of danger; in the military use, commonly, sudden apprehension of being attacked by surprise. "Alarm and resentment spread throughout the camp." (Macaulay) 5. A mechanical contrivance for awaking persons from sleep, or rousing their attention; an alarum. Alarm bell, a bell that gives notice on danger. Alarm clock or watch, a clock or watch which can be so set as to ring or strike loudly at a prearranged hour, to wake from sleep, or excite attention. Alarm gauge, a contrivance attached to a steam boiler for showing when the pressure of steam is too high, or the water in the boiler too low. Alarm post, a place to which troops are to repair in case of an alarm. 6. To call to arms for defense; to give notice to (any one) of approaching danger; to rouse to vigilance and action; to put on the alert. 7. To keep in excitement; to disturb. 8. To surprise with apprehension of danger; to fill with anxiety in regard to threatening evil; to excite with sudden fear. "Alarmed by rumors of military preparation." (Macaulay) Synonym: Fright, affright, terror, trepidation, apprehension, consternation, dismay, agitation, disquiet, disquietude. Alarm, Fright, Terror, Consternation. These words express different degrees of fear at the approach of danger. Fright is fear suddenly excited, producing confusion of the senses, and hence it is unreflecting. Alarm is the hurried agitation of feeling which springs from a sense of immediate and extreme exposure. Terror is agitating and excessive fear, which usually benumbs the faculties. Consternation is overwhelming fear, and carries a notion of powerlessness and amazement. Alarm agitates the feelings; terror disorders the understanding and affects the will; fright seizes on and confuses the sense; consternation takes possession of the soul, and subdues its faculties. See Apprehension. Origin: F. Alarme, alarmer. It. All' arme to arms ! fr. L. Arma, pl, arms. See Arms, and cf. Alarum. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| alarm reaction | The various phenomena, e.g., stimulated endocrine activity, which the body exhibits as an adaptive response to injury or stress; first phase of the general adaptation syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adverse drug reaction reporting systems | Systems developed for collecting reports from government agencies, manufacturers, hospitals, physicians, and other sources on adverse drug reactions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ambulatory care information systems | Information systems, usually computer-assisted, designed to store, manipulate, and retrieve information for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling administrative activities associated with the provision and utilization of ambulatory care services and facilities. (12 Dec 1998) |
| animal identification systems | Procedures for recognizing individual animals and certain identifiable characteristics pertaining to them; includes computerised methods, ear tags, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| radiology information systems | Information systems, usually computer-assisted, designed to store, manipulate, and retrieve information for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling administrative activities associated with the provision and utilization of radiology services and facilities. (12 Dec 1998) |
| management information systems | Systems designed to provide information primarily concerned with the administrative functions associated with the provision and utilization of services; also includes program planning, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| man-machine systems | A system in which the functions of the man and the machine are interrelated and necessary for the operation of the system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient identification systems | Organised procedures for establishing patient identity, including use of bracelets, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| medical records systems, computerised | Computer-based systems for input, storage, display, retrieval, and printing of information contained in a patient's medical record. (12 Dec 1998) |
| medication systems | Overall systems, traditional or automated, to provide medication to patients. (12 Dec 1998) |
| medication systems, hospital | Overall systems, traditional or automated, to provide medication to patients in hospitals. Elements of the system are: handling the physician's order, transcription of the order by nurse and/or pharmacist, filling the medication order, transfer to the nursing unit, and administration to the patient. (12 Dec 1998) |
| personnel staffing and scheduling information systems | Computer-based systems for use in personnel management in a facility, e.g., distribution of caregivers with relation to patient needs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| clinical laboratory information systems | Information systems, usually computer-assisted, designed to store, manipulate, and retrieve information for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling administrative and clinical activities associated with the provision and utilization of clinical laboratory services. (12 Dec 1998) |
| clinical pharmacy information systems | Information systems, usually computer-assisted, designed to store, manipulate, and retrieve information for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling administrative activities associated with the provision and utilization of clinical pharmacy services. (12 Dec 1998) |