alert

a|lert¹ [əˈlə:t US -ə:rt] adj

[Date: 1500-1600; : French; Origin: alerte, from Italian all' erta 'on the watch']

1.) giving all your attention to what is happening, being said etc

▪ The animal raised its head, suddenly alert.

▪ Taking notes is one of the best ways to stay alert in lectures.

2.) able to think quickly and clearly

▪ Jack was as mentally alert as a man half his age.

3.) be alert to sth

to know about or understand something, especially a possible danger or problem

▪ The authorities should have been alert to the possibility of invasion.

>alertness n [U]

alert ²

alert² v [T]

1.) to officially warn someone about a problem or danger so that they are ready to deal with it

▪ The school immediately alerted the police .

2.) to make someone realize something important or dangerous

alert sb to sth

▪ campaigns to alert the public to the dangers of HIV

alert ³

alert³ n

1.)

a warning to be ready for possible danger

a bomb/fire/terrorist etc alert

▪ a full-scale flood alert

▪ The bomb alert was raised soon after midnight.

→↑red alert

2.) on (the) alert (for sth/sb)

ready to notice and deal with a situation or problem

▪ Be on the alert for anyone acting suspiciously.

▪ Troops in the vicinity were put on alert .

on full alert also on high alert

(=completely ready to deal with a dangerous situation)

▪ All our border points are on full alert.