anything that serves to indicate, warn, direct, command, or the like, as a light, a gesture, an act, etc.: a traffic signal; a signal to leave.
2.
anything agreed upon or understood as the occasion for concerted action.
3.
an act, event, or the like that causes or incites some action: The unjust execution was the signal for revolt.
4.
a token; indication.
5.
Electronics. an electrical quantity or effect, as current, voltage, or electromagnetic waves, that can be varied in such a way as to convey information.
6.
Cards. a play that reveals to one's partner a wish that he or she continue or discontinue the suit led.
–adjective
7.
serving as a signal; used in signaling: a signal flag.
8.
unusual; notable; outstanding: a signal exploit.
–verb (used with object)
9.
to make a signal to.
10.
to communicate or make known by a signal.
–verb (used without object)
11.
to make communication by a signal or signals.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME (n.) < ML signāle, LL, n. use of neut. of signālis of a sign. See sign, -al2, -al1]
An indicator, such as a gesture or colored light, that serves as a means of communication. See Synonyms at gesture.
A message communicated by such means.
Something that incites action: The peace treaty was the signal for celebration.
Electronics An impulse or a fluctuating electric quantity, such as voltage, current, or electric field strength, whose variations represent coded information.
The sound, image, or message transmitted or received in telegraphy, telephony, radio, television, or radar.
adj.
Notably out of the ordinary: a signal feat; a signal event.
v.
sig·naled or sig·nalled, sig·nal·ing or sig·nal·ling, sig·nals
v.
tr.
To make a signal to: I signaled the driver to proceed.
To relate or make known by signals: They have signaled their willingness to negotiate.
v.
intr.
To make a signal or signals.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin signāle, from neuter of Late Latin signālis, of a sign, from Latin signum, sign; see sign.]
c.1384, from O.Fr. signal, from M.L. signale "a signal," from L.L. signalis (adj.) "used as a signal, pertaining to a sign," from L. signum "signal, sign." The verb is first recorded 1805, from the noun; earlier verb was signalize (1654).
notably out of the ordinary; "the year saw one signal triumph for the Labour party"
noun
1.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message; "signals from the boat suddenly stopped"
2.
any incitement to action; "he awaited the signal to start"; "the victory was a signal for wild celebration"
3.
an electric quantity (voltage or current or field strength) whose modulation represents coded information about the source from which it comes
verb
1.
communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs; "He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture"; "The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu" [syn: sign]
2.
be a signal for or a symptom of; "These symptoms indicate a serious illness"; "Her behavior points to a severe neurosis"; "The economic indicators signal that the euro is undervalued" [syn: bespeak]
a sign (eg a movement of the hand, a light, a sound), especially one arranged beforehand, giving a command, warning or other message Example: He gave the signal to advance.
Arabic:
إشارَه
Chinese (Simplified):
信号，暗号
Chinese (Traditional):
信號，暗號
Czech:
signál
Danish:
signal; tegn
Dutch:
teken
Estonian:
märguanne
Finnish:
merkki
French:
signal
German:
das Signal
Greek:
σήμα, σινιάλο
Hungarian:
jel(zés)
Icelandic:
merki
Indonesian:
isyarat
Italian:
segnale
Japanese:
合図
Korean:
신호
Latvian:
signāls; zīme
Lithuanian:
signalas
Norwegian:
signal, tegn
Polish:
sygnał
Portuguese (Brazil):
sinal
Portuguese (Portugal):
sinal
Romanian:
semnal
Russian:
сигнал, команда
Slovak:
signál
Slovenian:
znamenje
Spanish:
señal
Swedish:
signal, tecken
Turkish:
işaret
signal2[ˈsignəl]noun
a machine etc used for this purpose Example: a railway signal
Arabic:
ماكِنة تُسْتَعْمَل كإشارَه
Chinese (Simplified):
信号机
Chinese (Traditional):
信號機
Czech:
signalizační zařízení
Danish:
signal; -signal
Dutch:
signaal
Estonian:
signaalseade
Finnish:
opastin
French:
signal, feu
German:
das Signal
Greek:
μηχάνημα εκπομπής σημάτων
Hungarian:
jelzőberendezés, szemafor
Icelandic:
merki, ljós
Indonesian:
sinyal
Italian:
segnale
Japanese:
信号
Korean:
신호기
Latvian:
signāliekārta
Lithuanian:
signalizatorius
Norwegian:
signal(lys)
Polish:
sygnalizator
Portuguese (Brazil):
sinal
Portuguese (Portugal):
sinal
Romanian:
semnal, far
Russian:
сигнальное устройство
Slovak:
signalizačné zariadenie, návestidlo
Slovenian:
znak
Spanish:
señal
Swedish:
signal
Turkish:
işaret ışıkları, sinyalizasyon
signal3[ˈsignəl]noun
the wave, sound received or sent out by a radio set etc
Arabic:
إشارَة لاسِلكِيَّه
Chinese (Simplified):
无线电信号
Chinese (Traditional):
無線電信號
Czech:
signál
Danish:
signal; -signal
Dutch:
sein
Estonian:
signaal
Finnish:
signaali
French:
signal
German:
das Signal
Greek:
σήμα που λαμβάνεται από ραδιοφωνικό δέκτη
Hungarian:
jel
Icelandic:
(raf)merki
Indonesian:
sinyal
Italian:
segnale
Japanese:
信号
Korean:
수신되는 전파
Latvian:
signāls
Lithuanian:
signalas
Norwegian:
signal
Polish:
sygnał
Portuguese (Brazil):
sinal
Portuguese (Portugal):
sinal
Romanian:
semnal
Russian:
сигнал
Slovak:
signál
Slovenian:
signal
Spanish:
señal
Swedish:
signal
Turkish:
sinyal
signal1[ˈsignəl]verb
to make signals (to) Example: The policeman signalled the driver to stop.
signalAudio Help (sĭg'nəl) Pronunciation Key
A fluctuating quantity or impulse whose variations represent information. The amplitude or frequency of voltage, current, electric field strength, light, and sound can be varied as signals representing information.
SIGNALlanguage A synchronous language by Le Guernic et al of INRIA. ["SIGNAL - A Data Flow-Oriented Language for Signal Processing," P. le Guernic, IEEE Trans Acoustics Speech & Signal Proc, ASSP-34(2):362-1986-04-374]. (1996-12-10)
signaloperating system A predefined message sent between two Unixprocesses or from the kernel to a process. Signals communicate the occurrence of unexpected external events such as the forced termination of a process by the user. Each signal has a unique number associated with it and each process has a signal handler set for each signal. Signals can be sent using the killsystem call. (1996-12-10)
Signal Mountain, TN (town, FIPS 68540) Location: 35.13043 N, 85.34210 W Population (1990): 7034 (2718 housing units) Area: 13.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 37377
Signal Hill, CA (city, FIPS 71876) Location: 33.80360 N, 118.16741 W Population (1990): 8371 (3670 housing units) Area: 5.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 90804, 90806, 90807
Sign\, n. [F. signe, L. signum; cf. AS. segen, segn, a sign, standard, banner, also fr. L. signum. Cf. Ensign, Resign, Seal a stamp, Signal, Signet.] That by which anything is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; a proof. Specifically: (a) A remarkable event, considered by the ancients as indicating the will of some deity; a prodigy; an omen. (b) An event considered by the Jews as indicating the divine will, or as manifesting an interposition of the divine power for some special end; a miracle; a wonder. Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. --Rom. xv. 19. It shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. --Ex. iv. 8. (c) Something serving to indicate the existence, or preserve the memory, of a thing; a token; a memorial; a monument. What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign. --Num. xxvi. 10. (d) Any symbol or emblem which prefigures, typifles, or represents, an idea; a type; hence, sometimes, a picture. The holy symbols, or signs, are not barely significative; but what they represent is as certainly delivered to us as the symbols themselves. --Brerewood. Saint George of Merry England, the sign of victory. --Spenser. (e) A word or a character regarded as the outward manifestation of thought; as, words are the sign of ideas. (f) A motion, an action, or a gesture by which a thought is expressed, or a command or a wish made known. They made signs to his father, how he would have him called. --Luke i. 62. (g) Hence, one of the gestures of pantomime, or of a language of a signs such as those used by the North American Indians, or those used by the deaf and dumb. Note: Educaters of the deaf distinguish between natural signs, which serve for communicating ideas, and methodical, or systematic, signs, adapted for the dictation, or the rendering, of written language, word by word; and thus the signs are to be distinguished from the manual alphabet, by which words are spelled on the fingers. (h) A military emblem carried on a banner or a standard. --Milton. (i) A lettered board, or other conspicuous notice, placed upon or before a building, room, shop, or office to advertise the business there transacted, or the name of the person or firm carrying it on; a publicly displayed token or notice. The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets. --Macaulay. (j) (Astron.) The twelfth part of the ecliptic or zodiac. Note: The signs are reckoned from the point of intersection of the ecliptic and equator at the vernal equinox, and are named, respectively, Aries ([Aries]), Taurus ([Taurus]), Gemini (II), Cancer ([Cancer]), Leo ([Leo]), Virgo ([Virgo]), Libra ([Libra]), Scorpio ([Scorpio]), Sagittarius ([Sagittarius]), Capricornus ([Capricorn]), {Aquarius ([Aquarius]), Pisces ([Pisces]). These names were originally the names of the constellations occupying severally the divisions of the zodiac, by which they are still retained; but, in consequence of the procession of the equinoxes, the signs have, in process of time, become separated about 30 degrees from these constellations, and each of the latter now lies in the sign next in advance, or to the east of the one which bears its name, as the constellation Aries in the sign Taurus, etc. (k) (Alg.) A character indicating the relation of quantities, or an operation performed upon them; as, the sign + (plus); the sign -- (minus); the sign of division /, and the like. (l) (Med.) An objective evidence of disease; that is, one appreciable by some one other than the patient. Note: The terms symptom and and sign are often used synonymously; but they may be discriminated. A sign differs from a symptom in that the latter is perceived only by the patient himself. The term sign is often further restricted to the purely local evidences of disease afforded by direct examination of the organs involved, as distinguished from those evidence of general disturbance afforded by observation of the temperature, pulse, etc. In this sense it is often called physical sign. (m) (Mus.) Any character, as a flat, sharp, dot, etc. (n) (Theol.) That which, being external, stands for, or signifies, something internal or spiritual; -- a term used in the Church of England in speaking of an ordinance considered with reference to that which it represents. An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. --Bk. of Common Prayer. Note: See the Table of Arbitrary Signs, p. 1924. Sign manual. (a) (Eng. Law) The royal signature superscribed at the top of bills of grants and letter patent, which are then sealed with the privy signet or great seal, as the case may be, to complete their validity. (b) The signature of one's name in one's own handwriting. --Craig. Tomlins. Wharton. Syn: Token; mark; note; symptom; indication; signal; symbol; type; omen; prognostic; presage; manifestation. See Emblem.
Sig"nal\, n. [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.]1. A sign made for the purpose of giving notice to a person of some occurence, command, or danger; also, a sign, event, or watchword, which has been agreed upon as the occasion of concerted action. All obeyed The wonted signal and superior voice Of this great potentate. --Milton. 2. A token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign. The weary sun . . . Gives signal of a goodly day to-morrow. --Shak. There was not the least signal of the calamity to be seen. --De Foc.
Sig"nal\, a. [From signal, n.: cf. F. signal['e].]1. Noticeable; distinguished from what is ordinary; eminent; remarkable; memorable; as, a signal exploit; a signal service; a signal act of benevolence. As signal now in low, dejected state As erst in highest, behold him where he lies. --Milton. 2. Of or pertaining to signals, or the use of signals in conveying information; as, a signal flag or officer. The signal service, a bureau of the government (in the United States connected with the War Department) organized to collect from the whole country simultaneous raports of local meteorological conditions, upon comparison of which at the central office, predictions concerning the weather are telegraphed to various sections, where they are made known by signals publicly displayed. Signal station, the place where a signal is displayed; specifically, an observation office of the signal service. Syn: Eminent; remarkable; memorable; extraordinary; notable; conspicuous.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [sig-nl] Pronunciation Key noun, adjective, verb, -naled, -nal·ing or (especially British
