Adjacent Words

Signal definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SIG'NAL, n. [L. signum.] A sign that gives or is intended to give notice; or the notice given. Signals are used to communicate notice, information, orders and the like, to persons at a distance, and by any persons and for the purpose. A signal may be a motion of the hand, the raising of a flag, the firing of a gun, or any thing which, being understood by persons at a distance, may communicate notice.
Signals are particularly useful in the navigation of fleets and in naval engagements. There are day-signals, which are usually made by the sails, by flags and pendants, or guns; night-signals, which are lanterns disposed in certain figures, or false fires, rockets, or the firing of guns; fog-signals, which are made by sounds, as firing of guns, beating of drums, ringing of bells, etc. There are signals of evolution, addressed to a whole fleet, to a division or to a squadron; signals of movements to particular ships; and signals of service, general or particular. Signals used in an army are mostly made by a particular beat of the drum, or by the bugle.
SIG'NAL, a. Eminent; remarkable; memorable; distinguished from what is ordinary; as a signal exploit; a signal service; a signal ace of benevolence. It is generally but not always used in a good sense.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: notably out of the ordinary; "the year saw one signal triumph for the Labour party" n
1: any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message; "signals from the boat suddenly stopped" [syn: signal, signaling, sign]
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 v
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, signal, signalize, signalise]
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, betoken, indicate, point, signal]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin signale, from Late Latin, neuter of signalis of a sign, from Latin signum Date: 14th century 1. sign, indication 2. a. an act, event, or watchword that has been agreed on as the occasion of concerted action b. something that incites to action 3. something (as a sound, gesture, or object) that conveys notice or warning 4. a. an object used to transmit or convey information beyond the range of human voice b. the sound or image conveyed in telegraphy, telephony, radio, radar, or television c. a detectable physical quantity or impulse (as a voltage, current, or magnetic field strength) by which messages or information can be transmitted II. verb (signaled or signalled; signaling or signalling) Date: 1805 transitive verb 1. to notify by a signal <signal the fleet to turn back> 2. a. to communicate or indicate by or as if by signals <signaled the end of an era> b. to constitute a characteristic feature of (a meaningful linguistic form) intransitive verb to make or send a signal • signaler or signaller noun III. adjective Etymology: modification of French signalé, past participle of signaler to distinguish, from Old Italian segnalare to signal, distinguish, from segnale signal, from Medieval Latin signale Date: 1627 distinguished from the ordinary ; notable <a signal achievement>

U.S. Military Dictionary

(*) 1. As applied to electronics, any transmitted electrical impulse. 2. Operationally, a type of message, the text of which consists of one or more letters, words, characters, signal flags, visual displays, or special sounds with prearranged meaning, and which is conveyed or transmitted by visual, acoustical, or electrical means.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 a a usu. prearranged sign conveying information, guidance, etc. esp. at a distance (waved as a signal to begin). b a message made up of such signs (signals made with flags). 2 an immediate occasion or cause of movement, action, etc. (the uprising was a signal for repression). 3 Electr. a an electrical impulse or impulses or radio waves transmitted as a signal. b a sequence of these. 4 a light, semaphore, etc., on a railway giving instructions or warnings to train-drivers etc. 5 Bridge a prearranged mode of bidding or play to convey information to one's partner. --v. (signalled, signalling; US signaled, signaling) 1 intr. make signals. 2 tr. a (often foll. by to + infin.) make signals to; direct. b transmit (an order, information, etc.) by signal; announce (signalled her agreement; signalled that the town had been taken). Phrases and idioms: signal-book a list of signals arranged for sending esp. naval and military messages. signal-box Brit. a building beside a railway track from which signals are controlled. signal of distress esp. Naut. an appeal for help, esp. from a ship by firing guns. signal-tower US = signal-box. Derivatives: signaller n. Etymology: ME f. OF f. Rmc & med.L signale neut. of LL signalis f. L signum SIGN 2. adj. remarkably good or bad; noteworthy (a signal victory). Derivatives: signally adv. Etymology: F signalé f. It. past part. segnalato distinguished f. segnale SIGNAL(1)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Signal 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Signal Sig"nal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Signaled or Signalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Signaling or Signalling.] 1. To communicate by signals; as, to signal orders. 2. To notify by a signals; to make a signal or signals to; as, to signal a fleet to anchor. --M. Arnold.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Signal 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(signals, signalling, signalled) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. Note: in AM, use 'signaling', 'signaled' 1. A signal is a gesture, sound, or action which is intended to give a particular message to the person who sees or hears it. They fired three distress signals... As soon as it was dark, Mrs Evans gave the signal... You mustn't fire without my signal. N-COUNT 2. If you signal to someone, you make a gesture or sound in order to send them a particular message. The United manager was to be seen frantically signalling to McClair... He stood up, signalling to the officer that he had finished with his client... She signalled a passing taxi and ordered him to take her to the rue Marengo. VERB: V prep/adv, V that, V n, also V 3. If an event or action is a signal of something, it suggests that this thing exists or is going to happen. Kurdish leaders saw the visit as an important signal of support... = sign N-COUNT: with supp 4. If someone or something signals an event, they suggest that the event is happening or likely to happen. She will be signalling massive changes in energy policy... The outcome of that meeting could signal whether there truly exists a political will to begin negotiating. = indicate VERB: V n, V wh 5. A signal is a piece of equipment beside a railway, which indicates to train drivers whether they should stop the train or not. N-COUNT 6. A signal is a series of radio waves, light waves, or changes in electrical current which may carry information. ...high-frequency radio signals. N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. Token, mark, indication, sign. II. a. Eminent, memorable, extraordinary, remarkable, notable, conspicuous.

Moby Thesaurus

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