warning

[wawr-ning] /ˈwɔr nɪŋ/
noun
1.
the act or utterance of one who warns or the existence, appearance, sound, etc., of a thing that warns.
2.
something that serves to warn, give notice, or caution:
We fired a warning at the intruders.
3.
Meteorology. an announcement from the U.S. National Weather Service alerting the public that a storm or other weather-related hazard is imminent and that immediate steps should be taken to protect lives and property.
Compare advisory (def 5), storm warning (def 2), watch (def 20).
adjective
4.
serving to warn, advise, caution:
a warning bell.
Origin
before 900; Middle English (noun); Old English war(e)nung precaution; see warn, -ing1, -ing2
Related forms
warningly, adverb
Synonyms
2. caution, admonition, advice; omen, sign, portent, augury, presage.

warn

[wawrn] /wɔrn/
verb (used with object)
1.
to give notice, advice, or intimation to (a person, group, etc.) of danger, impending evil, possible harm, or anything else unfavorable:
They warned him of a plot against him. She was warned that her life was in danger.
2.
to urge or advise to be careful; caution:
to warn a careless driver.
3.
to admonish or exhort, as to action or conduct:
She warned her employees to be on time.
4.
to notify, advise, or inform:
to warn a person of an intended visit.
5.
to give notice to (a person, group, etc.) to go, keep at a distance, etc. (often followed by away, off, etc.):
A sign warns trespassers off the grounds. A marker warned boats away from the dock.
6.
to give authoritative or formal notice to (someone); order; summon:
to warn a person to appear in court.
verb (used without object)
7.
to give a warning; caution:
to warn of further disasters.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English warnen, Old English warnian; cognate with German warnen. Cf. ware2
Related forms
warner, noun
prewarn, verb (used with object)
rewarn, verb (used with object)
unwarned, adjective
well-warned, adjective
Synonyms
1. forewarn. Warn, caution, admonish imply attempting to prevent another from running into danger or getting into unpleasant or undesirable circumstances. To warn is to speak plainly and usually in strong terms: to warn him about danger and possible penalties. To caution is to advise about necessary precautions, to put one on one's guard about possibly harmful circumstances or conditions, thus emphasizing avoidance of undesirable consequences: to caution him against driving in such weather. Admonish suggests giving earnest, authoritative advice with only tacit references to danger or penalty: to admonish a person for neglecting his duties.
Examples from the web for warning
  • Basic early warning systems are being set up in the affected areas.
  • For years cars have had warning systems to let drivers know when they're about to back into something.
  • Not that long ago, people got little to no warning about hurricanes.
  • Learn the warning signs of an avalanche before it's triggered.
  • While avalanches are sudden, the warning signs are almost always numerous before they let loose.
  • They can-and have-issued conflicting warning messages.
  • The warning was generally dismissed as inter-forum rivalry.
  • The media, which should be the first line of warning for excesses and abuses, is largely a function of the elite.
  • The difference was that the second time around there was warning.
  • The same birds ignored subtly different calls warning of leopards, which do not tend to prey on the birds.
British Dictionary definitions for warning

warning

/ˈwɔːnɪŋ/
noun
1.
a hint, intimation, threat, etc, of harm or danger
2.
advice to beware or desist
3.
an archaic word for notice (sense 6)
adjective
4.
(prenominal) intended or serving to warn: a warning look
5.
(of the coloration of certain distasteful or poisonous animals) having conspicuous markings, which predators recognize and learn to avoid; aposematic
Derived Forms
warningly, adverb

warn

/wɔːn/
verb
1.
to notify or make (someone) aware of danger, harm, etc
2.
(transitive; often takes a negative and an infinitive) to advise or admonish (someone) as to action, conduct, etc: I warn you not to do that again
3.
(takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to inform (someone) in advance: he warned them that he would arrive late
4.
(transitive; usually foll by away, off, etc) to give notice to go away, be off, etc: he warned the trespassers off his ground
Derived Forms
warner, noun
Word Origin
Old English wearnian; related to Old High German warnēn, Old Norse varna to refuse
Word Origin and History for warning

warn

v.

Old English warnian "to give notice of impending danger," also intransitive, "to take heed," from West Germanic *warnojanan (cf. Old Norse varna "to admonish," Old High German warnon "to take heed," German warnen "to warn"); related to Old English wær "aware, cautious" (see wary). Related: Warned; warning.