English Dictionary
Definition of “signal”
signal (ˈsɪɡnəll
)
Definitions
noun
- any sign, gesture, token, etc, that serves to communicate information
- anything that acts as an incitement to action ⇒
the rise in prices was a signal for rebellion
- a variable parameter, such as a current or electromagnetic wave, by which information is conveyed through an electronic circuit, communications system, etc
- the information so conveyed
- ((as modifier) ⇒
signal strength
a signal generator
adjective
- distinguished or conspicuous
- used to give or act as a signal
verb
- to communicate (a message, etc) to (a person)
Alternative Forms
ˈsignaller ˈsignaler noun Word Origin
C16: from Old French seignal, from Medieval Latin signāle, from Latin signum sign
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
sign,
gesture,
indication,
mark,
note,
evidence,
expression,
proof,
token,
indicator,
manifestation,
=
show,
express,
display,
indicate,
make known
announce,
declare,
register,
communicate,
proclaim,
flag up,
Translations
- British English:
signal
A signal is a sound or action which is intended to send a particular message.They fired three distress signals.ˈsɪɡnl NOUN They fired three distress signals.
- Spanish:
señal
nf
- French:
signal
nm
- German:
Signal
nnt
- Chinese: 信号 n
- Arabic: إشَارَة n
- Portuguese: sinal nm
- Russian: сигнал nm
- Croatian: signal nm
- Czech: signál nm
- Danish: signal nnt
- Dutch: signaal nnt
- Finnish: signaali n
- Greek: σινιάλο nnt
- Italian: segnale nm
- Japanese: 合図 n
- Korean: 신호 n
- Norwegian: signal nnt
- Polish: sygnał nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: sinal nm
- European Spanish:
señal
nf
- Swedish: signal nutr
- Thai: สัญญาน n
- Turkish: işaret n
- Vietnamese: tín hiệu n
- British English:
signal
If you signal something, or if you signal to someone, you make a gesture or sound in order to give someone a particular message.She signalled a passing taxi.ˈsɪɡnl VERB She signalled a passing taxi.
- Spanish:
señalar
v
- French:
signaler
vt
- German:
signalisieren
v
- Chinese: 发信号 v
- Arabic: يُشيرُ v
- Portuguese: sinalizar v
- Russian: подавать сигнал v
- Croatian: signalizirati v
- Czech: signalizovat v
- Danish: signalere v
- Dutch: signaleren v
- Finnish: antaa merkki v
- Greek: σηματοδοτώ v
- Italian: segnalare v
- Japanese: 合図する v
- Korean: 신호를 보내다 v
- Norwegian: signalisere v
- Polish: zasygnalizować v sygnalizować
- Brazilian Portuguese: sinalizar v
- European Spanish:
señalar
v
- Swedish: signalera v
- Thai: ให้สัญญาน v
- Turkish: işaretle anlatmak v
- Vietnamese: ra hiệu v
Usage examples
She held her breath, focusing every jot of her attention upon interpreting the signal.
Clive Barker, EVERVILLE (2001)He argued that the time delay of a light signal passing through the gravitational field of a moving planet depends on the speed of gravity.
New Scientist (2003)Pain is a warning signal that part of the body is under strain, injured or damaged.
Irish Times (2002)Ganguly took over with his second successive 50 in the series to signal his return to form.
Glasgow Herald (2002)No messages were being sent at all -- just an invisible electronic signal.
Gavin Weightman, SIGNOR MARCONI'S MAGIC BOX: The invention that sparked the radio revolution (2003)
