English

edit

Etymology

edit

multi- +‎ alarm

Adjective

edit

multialarm (not comparable)

  1. (US, firefighting, of a fire) Requiring the work of several firetrucks to contain or extinguish.

Usage notes

edit
  • The alarm level is a measure of the resources required to deal with the fire; thus one might speak of a three-alarm fire or three-alarmer.