signal
[noun]
Synonyms:
- sign, beacon, cue, gesture, indication, mark, token
[verb]
Synonyms:
- gesture, beckon, gesticulate, indicate, motion, sign, wave

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Related Idioms: give the high sign (to)
Related Words: alarm, alert, tocsin, movement, characteristic, distinctive, individual, peculiar, significative, eminent, famous, illustrious, renowned

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English Thesaurus: sign, indication, evidence, symptom, indicator, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. sig‧nal¹ S2 W2 /ˈsɪɡnəl/ noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: sign, signal, signatory, signature, signing, signaller; verb: sign, signal; adverb: signally; adjective: signed ≠ unsigned]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: signale, from Medieval Latin, from Late Latin signalis 'of a sign', from Latin signum; ⇒ sign¹]

1. a sound or an action that you make in order to give information to someone or tell them to do something
signal (for somebody) to do something
When she got up from the table, it was obviously the signal for us to leave.
At a prearranged signal the lights went out. ⇒ smoke signal

2. an event or action that shows what someone feels, what exists, or what is likely to happen
signal (that)
These results are a signal that the child may need special help.
signal of
The opinion poll is a clear signal of people’s dissatisfaction with the government.
the danger signals of a heart attack
send/give out a signal
We don't want to give out the wrong signal to investors.

3. a series of light waves, sound waves etc that carry an image, sound, or message, for example in radio or television
send/transmit a signal
This new pay-TV channel sends signals via satellite to cable companies.
receive/pick up/detect a signal
a small antenna which can receive radio signals
The coastguard picked up a distress signal from a freighter 50 miles out at sea.

4. a piece of equipment with coloured lights, used on a railway to tell train drivers whether they can continue or must stop:
a stop signal
a signal failure (=when these lights do not work)
⇒ busy signal at busy¹(4)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. signal² verb (past tense and past participle signalled, present participle signalling British English, signaled, signaling American English)
[Word Family: noun: sign, signal, signatory, signature, signing, signaller; verb: sign, signal; adverb: signally; adjective: signed ≠ unsigned]

1. [intransitive and transitive] to make a sound or an action in order to give information or tell someone to do something:
She signalled, and the waiter brought the bill.
The whistle signalled the end of the match.
signal at
Mary signalled wildly at them, but they didn’t notice.
signal to
The judge signaled to a police officer and the man was led away.
signal for
He pushed his plate away and signalled for coffee.
signal (to) somebody to do something
She signalled to the children to come inside.
signal that
The bell signaled that school was over.

2. [transitive] to make something clear by what you say or do – used in news reports:
Both sides have signaled their willingness to start negotiations.
British sources last night signalled their readiness to talk.
signal (that)
The Prime Minister’s speech today signals that there will be a shakeup in the cabinet.

3. [transitive] to be a sign that something is going to happen
signal the start/beginning/end of something
the lengthening days that signal the end of winter

4. [intransitive] to show the direction you intend to turn in a vehicle, using the lights Synonym : indicate American English:
Signal before you pull out.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. signal³ adjective [only before noun] formal
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: French; Origin: signalé, past participle of signaler 'to show a difference between', from Old Italian segnalare, from Medieval Latin signale; ⇒ signal¹]
important
signal achievement/success/failure etc
The university has done me the signal honour of making me an Honorary Fellow.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

signal
noun
I. sign/action/sound that sends a message
ADJ. clear, unmistakable | agreed, pre-arranged | conflicting, confusing, contradictory, mixed | wrong Laughing when you should be crying sends out the wrong signals to people.
alarm, danger, distress, warning | hand, non-verbal, semaphore, smoke, verbal, visual
VERB + SIGNAL arrange He had arranged a signal for the band to begin.
give (sb), make, send (out) When I give the signal, run! | interpret (sth as), read, see sth as The remark was seen as a signal that their government was ready to return to the peace talks. | pick up, respond to Interviewers quickly learn to pick up non-verbal signals.
act as The insect's bright colours act as warning signals to its predators.
SIGNAL + VERB come from sth trying to read the signals coming from the patient
indicate sth the signals that can indicate danger
PREP. at/on a ~ At a pre-arranged signal, everyone started cheering. | ~ for She made a signal for the car to stop.
~ from/to Wait for the signal from the leader of your group.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

signal
II. set of lights for drivers
ADJ. railway, traffic
VERB + SIGNAL operate
SIGNAL + VERB be (on) red/green The traffic signals were on red.
fail
SIGNAL + NOUN box | failure

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

signal
III. series of radio waves, chemical messages, etc.
ADJ. faint, weak | strong | high-frequency, low-frequency | acoustic, analogue, audio, chemical, digital, electrical, electronic, light, radar, radio, sonar, sound, television/TV, video, wireless
VERB + SIGNAL carry, pass The nerves carry these signals to the brain.
convert (sth into), scramble, unscramble The signal is scrambled into code before it is sent.
emit, generate, send, transmit | detect, pick up, receive, respond to This equipment can detect very low frequency signals.
SIGNAL + VERB travel A light signal can travel well over 16km before it halves in intensity.
fade
PREP. ~ from a faint signal from the satellite
~ to

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

signal
verb
I. move your arms to give a signal
ADV. frantically, wildly She signalled frantically to us.
PREP. for He raised his hand and signalled for the waiter.
to She signalled to the bus driver to stop.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

signal
II. show/mark sth
ADV. clearly These changes clearly signal the end of the welfare state as we know it.
effectively | not necessarily A change of mind in one instance does not necessarily signal a change in overall policy.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

signal

a clear/strong signal
My body was giving me a clear signal that something was wrong.
a warning/danger/alarm signal (=a signal showing that there is danger)
Managers should keep a watchful eye open for the danger signals.
the wrong signals (=ones that do not give a true account of a situation)
Reducing the penalty for marijuana use perhaps sends the wrong signal to teenagers.
mixed signals (=ones that are confusing because they seem to show two different things)
Our culture gives girls mixed messages about food, with skinny models and fast-food commercials competing for attention.
send/give out a signal
The use of the army sends out a clear signal to protesters that their actions will not be tolerated.
read the signals (=to understand signals correctly)
President Nixon read the signals and decided it was time to resign.
send (out)/transmit a signal
The signals are transmitted via satellites.
emit a signal (=sends one out)
The device emits a signal which can be picked up by a submarine.
receive/pick up a signal
The antenna that will pick up the signals is a 12-metre dish.
carry a signal (=allow it to travel along or through something)
Copper wires carry the electrical signals.
a signal travels (=goes across space, along a wire etc)
The signal travels over the cable network.
strong
I can’t use my phone because the signal isn’t strong enough here.
weak/faint
The signals were too weak for the receiver to pick up.
a radio/electrical/radar signal
A transmitter connected to the door bell sends radio signals to a portable receiver.
a digital signal
Digital signals can be compressed to take up less space.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

sign [countable] an event, fact etc that shows that something is happening or that something is true or exists:
The curtains were still drawn and there was no sign of activity.
A score of 80 or more is a sign that you are doing very well.
indication [countable] a sign. Indication is more formal than sign:
Recently there have been several indications of improving relations.
There was no indication the killings were related to the drug trade.
evidence [uncountable] facts or signs that show clearly that something exists or is true, especially something that you are trying to prove:
Scientists are hoping to find evidence that there was once life on Mars.
There was not enough evidence to convict him of the murder.
symptom [countable] a sign that someone has an illness or that a serious problem exists:
The first symptoms are tiredness and loss of weight.
Is this a symptom of the decay of Western civilization?
indicator [countable] a sign that shows you what is happening or what is true – used about a process, or about the state or level of something:
There are a number of indicators of economic slowdown.
The tests are considered a good indicator of intelligence.
signal [countable] a sign that shows that you should do something, or that you have a particular attitude:
Severe chest pain is a warning signal that cannot be ignored.
Legalizing drugs could send the wrong signal to young people.
mark [countable] a sign, especially that you respect or honour someone:
People stood in silence as a mark of respect.
It was a mark of her popularity that so many colleagues and friends attended the presentation.
write to use a pen or pencil to make words, letters etc:
Have you written a shopping list?
The children are learning to read and write.
write something down to write something on paper, in order to remember it or make a record:
He wrote down everything she said.
put to write something in a particular place, or to write particular words:
I’ve put the dates of the meetings in my diary.
At the end of the email she put ‘PS I love you’.
put something in writing to write something that you have agreed or promised, so that there is an official record:
They said they would pay me 50%, but they haven’t actually put it in writing.
make a note of something to write information that you might need later:
I’ll just make a note of your address.
Make a note in your diary.
take notes to write things while someone is speaking or while something is happening, so that you can use them later:
His lawyer was with him taking notes.
scrawl /skrɔːl $ skrɒːl/ to write something carelessly and untidily, especially in big letters – often used to show disapproval:
Someone had scrawled graffiti on the school wall.
He’d scrawled a few unhelpful comments at the bottom of my work.
fill something in/out to write information on a form or other official document:
Please fill in the application form in black ink.
Would you mind filling out a questionnaire?
sign to write your name at the end of a letter, document etc:
Read the contract carefully, and then sign it.
Don’t forget to sign your name.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲