signal
adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L340436 on Wikidata ↗noun
- varying physical quantity that conveys information
- sign made to give notice of some occurrence, command or danger
- tactic in bridge card game
- biological information-transfer mechanism
- show, cause to see, communicate by signaling, message
verb
- convey information through a varying physical property
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈsɪɡnəl/
adj
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.
- Standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement.
“a signal exploit; a signal success; a signal act of benevolence”
“As ſignal now in low dejected ſtate, / As earſt in higheſt, behold him where he lies.”
noun
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.
- A sequence of states representing an encoded message in a communication channel.
- Any variation of a quantity or change in an entity over time that conveys information upon detection.
- A sign made to give notice of some occurrence, command, or danger, or to indicate the start of a concerted action.
“All obeyed / The wonted signal and superior voice / Of this great potentate.”
“Banner-Repeater signals tend to be provided in locations where drivers receive insufficient warning of the main signal, thereby effectively increasing the sighting distance for the main signal.”
- An on-off light, semaphore, or other device used to give an indication to another person.
- An on-off light, semaphore, or other device used to give an indication to another person.
- 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.
“My mobile phone can't get a signal in the railway station.”
- An action, change or process done to convey information and thus reduce uncertainty.
- A token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign.
“The weary sun […] / Gives signal of a goodly day to-morrow.”
“There was not the least signal of the calamity to be seen.”
- Useful information, as opposed to noise.
- A simple interprocess communication used to notify a process or thread of an occurrence.
- A signalling interaction between cells
verb
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.
- To indicate; to convey or communicate by a signal.
“I signalled my acquiescence with a nod.”
“He whistled to signal that we should stop.”
- To communicate with (a person or system) by a signal.
“Seeing the flames, he ran to the control room and signalled headquarters.”