Signal
['sɪgn(ə)l] or ['sɪgnl]
Definition
(noun.) any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message; 'signals from the boat suddenly stopped'.
(noun.) any incitement to action; 'he awaited the signal to start'; 'the victory was a signal for wild celebration'.
(noun.) an electric quantity (voltage or current or field strength) whose modulation represents coded information about the source from which it comes.
(adj.) notably out of the ordinary; 'the year saw one signal triumph for the Labour party' .
Checked by Benita--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) 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.
(n.) A token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign.
(a.) Noticeable; distinguished from what is ordinary; eminent; remarkable; memorable; as, a signal exploit; a signal service; a signal act of benevolence.
(a.) Of or pertaining to signals, or the use of signals in conveying information; as, a signal flag or officer.
(v. t.) To communicate by signals; as, to signal orders.
(v. t.) To notify by a signals; to make a signal or signals to; as, to signal a fleet to anchor.
Edited by Juanita
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Token, mark, indication, SIGN, beacon.
a. Eminent, memorable, extraordinary, remarkable, noted, conspicuous.
Checked by Felicia
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Eminent, conspicuous, remarkable, extraordinary, notable, memorable,illustrious, important, saline, distinguished
ANT:Ordinary, common, unnoticeable, mediocre, unmemorable, unimportant
Edited by Eva
Definition
n. a sign for giving notice generally at a distance: token: the notice given: any initial impulse.—v.t. and v.i. to make signals to: to convey by signals:—pr.p. sig′nalling; pa.t. and pa.p. sig′nalled.—adj. having a sign: remarkable: notable: eminent.—ns. Sig′nal-book a book containing a system of signals; Sig′nal-box -cab′in &c. a small house in which railway-signals are worked: the alarm-box of a police or fire-alarm system; Sig′nal-code a code or system of arbitrary signals esp. at sea by flags or lights; Sig′nal-fire a fire used for a signal; Sig′nal-flag a flag used in signalling its colour shape markings and combinations indicating various significations; Sig′nal-gun a gun fired as a signal.—v.t. Sig′nalise to make signal or eminent: to signal.—ns. Sig′nal-lamp a lamp by which signals are made by glasses or slides of different colours &c.; Sig′nalling the means of transmitting intelligence to a greater or less distance by the agency of sight or hearing.—adv. Sig′nally.—ns. Sig′nalman one who makes signals and who interprets those made; Sig′nalment the act of communicating by signals: description by means of marks; Sig′nal-post a pole on which movable flags arms lights are displayed as signals; Sig′nal-ser′vice the department in the army occupied with signalling.
Checker: Mollie
Examples
- Then came the electric bell signal and automatic selector attachments. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- Here the official time was taken by officers of the Signal Corps. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- We found the ship in the river, surrounded by a crowd of boats; a favourable wind blowing; the signal for sailing at her mast-head. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- The carbon being only slightly compressed will offer considerable resistance to the flow of current from the local battery, and therefore the signal on the local sounder will be weak. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Mr. Chadband, at last seeing his opportunity, makes his accustomed signal and rises with a smoking head, which he dabs with his pocket-handkerchief. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- At a signal from Dak Kova the doors of two cages were thrown open and a dozen green Martian females were driven to the center of the arena. Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Princess of Mars.
- Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- It was not, however, till the invention of telegraphs that anything approaching to the means of holding regular communication by signals was attained. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- By means of signals they could be informed where to direct their shots. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- The signals of his telegraph consisted of the bubbles of gas arising from the decomposition of water, during the action of the electric current. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- Those are signals--it is their way--the attack must be near. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- The day before the convention met Morse had arranged with Vail that certain signals should mean that certain candidates had been nominated. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- As this causes a loud repetition of the original signals, it will be seen that relaying is an economic method of extending a telegraph circuit beyond the natural limits of its battery power. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- The drill of the student involved chiefly the acquisition of the special signals employed in railway work, including the numerals and abbreviations applied to save time. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Where Judy Trenor led, all the world would follow; and Lily had the doomed sense of the castaway who has signalled in vain to fleeing sails. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- He immediately signalled to the cruiser to send water, medicine, and provisions, and another boat made the perilous trip to the Arrow. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- They then signalled the fort, announcing their arrival. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Then he groped in the darkness of the carriage for the little bell that signalled orders to the coachman. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- All this time McClernand's 10,000 men were huddled together on the transports in the stream ready to attempt a landing if signalled. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- I immediately signalled the Admiral and went aboard his ship. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- I saw a carriage coming down the street and signalled to the driver. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- The train, and also each signalling station, was equipped with regulation telegraph apparatus, such as battery, key, relay, and sounder, together with induction-coil and condenser. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- One day, thinking he might be confined in a room facing the office, I put my arm out of the window and kept signalling dots and dashes by the movement of the arm. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Ah--and there were the ladies signalling from the balcony of the hotel. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- The train and also each signalling station were equipped with regulation telegraphic apparatus, such as battery, key, relay, and sounder, together with induction-coil and condenser. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Cavallo, who suggested the setting fire to combustibles, or the explosion of detonating substances, as the means of signalling intelligence. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- Every day, in all weathers, from two to four, always signalling, sometimes with the little one, sometimes without. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
Editor: Maureen