English Explanatory Dictionary

signal

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A sequence of states representing an encoded message in a communication channel.
  2. Any variation of a quantity or change in an entity over time that conveys information upon detection.
  3. A sign made to give notice of some occurrence, command, or danger, or to indicate the start of a concerted action.
  4. An on-off light, semaphore, or other device used to give an indication to another person.
  5. A railway signal.
  6. An electromagnetic action, normally a voltage that is a function of time, that conveys the information of the radio or TV program or of communication with another party.
  7. An action, change or process done to convey information and thus reduce uncertainty.
  8. A token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign.
  9. Useful information, as opposed to noise.
  10. A simple interprocess communication used to notify a process or thread of an occurrence.
  11. A signalling interaction between cells
verb
  1. To indicate; to convey or communicate by a signal.
  2. To communicate with (a person or system) by a signal.
adj
  1. Standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement.

Pronunciation

sĭgʹnəl /ˈsɪɡnəl/ En-us-signal.ogg

Word forms

signal signals signall signaling signalling signaled signalled

Etymology

From Old French segnal, seignal or Medieval Latin signāle; noun use of the neuter of Late Latin signālis, from Latin signum; verb use from 1805, as a shortened from signalize (1650s). Doublet of signum and sign.

Synonyms

eminent noteworthy significant notable

Antonyms

noise

Related words

signature signet tocsin

Derived words

analog signal ball signal Bat-Signal biosignal block signal busy signal cab signal chemosignal clock signal colour light signal cosignal countersignal danger-signal danger signal digital signal directional signal discrete-time signal distant signal distress signal equisignal false signal fast busy signal fog signal foresignal gang signal ground signal hand signal home signal hypersignal hyposignal immunosignal intersignal magnetosignal main signal mechanosignal mixed signal multisignal myosignal phosphosignal phylosignal picosignal presignal price signal pyrosignal radio signal railway signal right-away signal semaphore signal shunting signal SIGINT signalase signal aspect signal boost signal box signalbox signal bridge signal cabin signal check signal crayfish signalee

Translations

Bulgarian: семафо́р Catalan: senyal Czech: signál Danish: signal Dutch: sein Finnish: opastin Finnish: merkinantolaite French: signal Galician: sinal German: Signal Hungarian: szemafor Hungarian: jelzőberendezés Italian: segnale Norwegian Bokmål: signal Norwegian Nynorsk: signal Polish: sygnał Portuguese: sinal Romanian: semnal indicator Romanian: semnalizator Russian: семафо́р Spanish: señal Swedish: signal
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