Adjacent Words

telltale definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: disclosing unintentionally; "a telling smile"; "a telltale panel of lights"; "a telltale patch of oil on the water marked where the boat went down" [syn: revealing, telling, telltale] n
1: someone who gossips indiscreetly [syn: tattletale, tattler, taleteller, talebearer, telltale, blabbermouth]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: circa 1548 1. a. talebearer, informer b. an outward sign ; indication 2. a device for indicating or recording something: as a. a wind-direction indicator often in the form of a ribbon b. a strip of metal on the front wall of a racquets or squash court above which the ball must be hit • telltale adjective

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Yellowlegs Yel"low*legs`, n. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of long-legged sandpipers of the genus Totanus, in which the legs are bright yellow; -- called also stone snipe, tattler, telltale, yellowshanks; and yellowshins. See Tattler, 2.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Telharmony Tel*har"mo*ny [?]), at a distant point or points by means of alternating currents of electricity controlled by an operator who plays on a keyboard. The music is produced by a receiving instrument similar or analogous to the telephone, but not held to the ear. The pitch corresponds with frequency of alternation of current. Telltale Tell"tale`, n. 1. A thing that serves to disclose something or give information; a hint or indication. It supplies many useful links and telltales. --Saintsbury. 2. (Railroads) An arrangement consisting of long strips, as of rope, wire, or leather, hanging from a bar over railroad tracks, in such a position as to warn freight brakemen of their approach to a low overhead bridge.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Tattler Tat"tler, n. 1. One who tattles; an idle talker; one who tells tales. --Jer. Taylor. 2. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of large, long-legged sandpipers belonging to the genus Totanus. Note: The common American species are the greater tattler, or telltale (T. melanoleucus), the smaller tattler, or lesser yellowlegs (T. flavipes), the solitary tattler (T. solitarius), and the semipalmated tattler, or willet. The first two are called also telltale, telltale spine, telltale tattler, yellowlegs, yellowshanks, and yelper.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Telltale Tell"tale`, a. Telling tales; babbling. ``The telltale heart.'' --Poe.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Telltale Tell"tale`, n. 1. One who officiously communicates information of the private concerns of others; one who tells that which prudence should suppress. 2. (Mus.) A movable piece of ivory, lead, or other material, connected with the bellows of an organ, that gives notice, by its position, when the wind is exhausted. 3. (Naut.) (a) A mechanical attachment to the steering wheel, which, in the absence of a tiller, shows the position of the helm. (b) A compass in the cabin of a vessel, usually placed where the captain can see it at all hours, and thus inform himself of the vessel's course. 4. (Mach.) A machine or contrivance for indicating or recording something, particularly for keeping a check upon employees, as factory hands, watchmen, drivers, check takers, and the like, by revealing to their employers what they have done or omitted. 5. (Zo["o]l.) The tattler. See Tattler.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

see tell-tale

Moby Thesaurus

a tale-bearing animal, babbling, betrayal, betrayer, blab, blabber, blabberer, blabbering, blabbermouth, blabbing, broad hint, busybody, catchword, clack, clue, communication leak, cue, cue word, dead giveaway, delator, divulgation, divulgement, divulgence, divulging, evidence, evulgation, fink, gentle hint, gesture, giveaway, glimmer, glimmering, gossip, gossip columnist, gossiper, gossipmonger, hint, hot lead, implication, index, indication, indiscretion, informer, inkling, innuendo, insinuation, intimation, key, key word, kick, lead, leak, letting out, look, narc, newsmonger, newspaperman, nod, notion, nudge, obvious clue, peacher, prompt, quidnunc, reporter, rumormonger, scandalmonger, scent, sign, signal, snitch, snitcher, spoor, spy, squealer, stool pigeon, stoolie, suggestion, suspicion, symptom, tabby, talebearer, taleteller, tattler, tattletale, telltale sign, tip-off, tittle-tattler, trace, track, unwitting disclosure, vestige, whiff, whisper, whistle-blower, wind, wink, yenta