Library / English Dictionary

SIGNAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: signalled    , signalling   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

Example:

signals from the boat suddenly stopped

Synonyms:

sign; signal; signaling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("signal" is a kind of...):

communication (something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "signal"):

output; output signal (signal that comes out of an electronic system)

input; input signal (signal going into an electronic system)

radio beacon (a characteristic signal emitted by a transmitter used for navigation)

electronic signal (a signal generated by electronic means)

indicator (a signal for attracting attention)

visual signal (a signal that involves visual communication)

symbol (an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance)

high sign (a silent signal of warning or recognition)

whistle; whistling (the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle)

radiotelegraphic signal; telegraphic signal (a signal transmitted by telegraphy)

drumbeat ((military) the beating of a drum as a signal for lowering the flag at sundown)

retreat ((military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position)

curfew (a signal (usually a bell) announcing the start of curfew restrictions)

recording (a signal that encodes something (e.g., picture or sound) that has been recorded)

number; phone number; telephone number (the number is used in calling a particular telephone)

start; starting signal (a signal to begin (as in a race))

storm signal (a signal announcing the approach of a storm (particularly a storm of marked violence))

beam; radio beam (a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather)

ticktack (system of signalling by hand signs used by bookmakers at racetracks)

time signal (a signal (especially electronic or by radio) indicating the precisely correct time)

dog-ear (a corner of a page turned down to mark your place)

animal communication (communication between animals (of the same species))

alarm; alarum; alert; warning signal (an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger)

distress call; distress signal (an internationally recognized signal sent out by a ship or plane indicating that help is needed)

all clear (a signal (usually a siren) that danger is over)

bugle call (a signal broadcast by the sound of a bugle)

Derivation:

signal (be a signal for or a symptom of)

signal (communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs)

signalize (make conspicuous or noteworthy)

signalize (point out carefully and clearly)

signalize (communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs)

signalize (provide with traffic signals)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any incitement to action

Example:

the victory was a signal for wild celebration

Classified under:

Nouns denoting goals

Hypernyms ("signal" is a kind of...):

incitation; incitement; provocation (something that incites or provokes; a means of arousing or stirring to action)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An electric quantity (voltage or current or field strength) whose modulation represents coded information about the source from which it comes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Hypernyms ("signal" is a kind of...):

electrical energy; electricity; power (energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "signal"):

interrupt (a signal that temporarily stops the execution of a program so that another procedure can be carried out)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Notably out of the ordinary

Example:

the year saw one signal triumph for the Labour party

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

impressive (making a strong or vivid impression)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be a signal for or a symptom of

Example:

The economic indicators signal that the euro is undervalued

Synonyms:

bespeak; betoken; indicate; point; signal

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "signal" is one way to...):

tell (let something be known)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "signal"):

augur; auspicate; betoken; bode; forecast; foreshadow; foretell; omen; portend; predict; prefigure; presage; prognosticate (indicate, as with a sign or an omen)

mark (designate as if by a mark)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

signal (any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs

Example:

The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu

Synonyms:

sign; signal; signalise; signalize

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "signal" is one way to...):

communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "signal"):

wigwag (signal by or as if by a flag or light waved according to a code)

semaphore (send signals by or as if by semaphore)

heliograph (signal by means of a mirror and the using the sun's rays)

flag (communicate or signal with a flag)

whistle (give a signal by whistling)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

They signal them the information

They signal the information to them

Derivation:

signal (any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message)

signaler (someone who communicates by signals)

signaling (any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message)

signaller (someone who communicates by signals)

Credits

 Context examples: 

This protein plays a role in both cytokine signaling and serine/threonine phosphorylation.

(Activin Receptor Type-1C, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein plays a role in protein phosphorylation, signal transduction, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis.

(Activin Receptor Type-1B, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein is involved in signal transduction and embryonic development.

(Activin Receptor Type-2A, NCI Thesaurus)

An artifact resulting from excess signal at the injection site.

(Activity at Injection Site, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes activin receptor type-1 protein, is involved in transcriptional regulation and signal transduction.

(ACVR1 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein is involved in embryonic development, protein phosphorylation, and signal transduction.

(Activin Receptor Type-1, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein is involved in tyrosine phosphorylation, endocytosis and signal transduction.

(Activated CDC42 Kinase 1, NCI Thesaurus)

The researchers also found that NM-MRI signal in the substantia nigra was associated with functional MRI measures of regional cerebral blood flow.

(Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI identified as a potential biomarker for psychosis, National Institutes of Health)

Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

This protein plays a role in both transcriptional regulation and signal transduction.

(Achaete-Scute Homolog 1, NCI Thesaurus)