signal
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signal
- /ˈsɪɡnəl/
Rhymes with -ɪɡnəl
Where it comes from
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.
noun signals · signall
- 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.
- An on-off light, semaphore, or other device used to give an indication to another person.
- A railway signal.
- 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.
-
Useful information, as opposed to noise.
Opposite: noise
- A simple interprocess communication used to notify a process or thread of an occurrence.
- A signalling interaction between cells.
verb signals · signaling · signalling · signaled · signalled
- To indicate; to convey or communicate by a signal. I signalled my acquiescence with a nod.
- To communicate with (a person or system) by a signal. Seeing the flames, he ran to the control room and signalled headquarters.
adjective signall
-
Standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement.
a signal exploit; a signal success; a signal act of benevolence
Similar: eminent, noteworthy, significant, notable
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: sign, signalize, indicate, betoken, point, bespeak, impressive, semaphore, communications, call, transmission, signboard, message, sig, transponder, marking
Translations
Every language
noun device to give indication
| Español | señal |
|---|---|
| Português | sinal |
| Français | signal |
| Deutsch | Signal |
| Italiano | segnale |
| Română | semnal indicator, semnalizator |
| Русский | семафо́р semafór |
noun sign made to give notice
| Español | señal |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 신호 sinho, 시그널 sigeuneol |
| 日本語 | 信号 shingō, 合図 aizu, シグナル shigunaru |
| 中文 | 信號 /信号 xìnhào, 訊號 /讯号 xùnhào |
| हिन्दी | संकेत saṅket, इशारा iśārā |
| Kiswahili | ishara |
| Português | sinal |
| Français | signal |
| Deutsch | Signal |
| Italiano | segnale |
| Ελληνικά | σήμα síma |
| Română | semnal |
| Русский | сигна́л signál, знак znak |
| Tiếng Việt | tín hiệu |
| العربية | إِشَارَة ʔišāra |
| עברית | אוֹת ot, סִיגְנָל signál |
noun telecommunication: electromagnetic action that conveys information
| Español | señal |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 전파 jeonpa |
| 日本語 | 電波 denpa |
| 中文 | 信号 xìnhào |
| Português | sinal, rede |
| Italiano | segnale, campo |
| Română | semnal |
| Русский | сигна́л signál |
| Tiếng Việt | tín hiệu |
noun action, change or process to convey information
| Español | señal |
|---|
verb to indicate
| Español | señalizar |
|---|---|
| Français | signaler |
| Deutsch | signalisieren |
| Italiano | segnalare, indicare |
| Русский | сигнализи́ровать signalizírovatʹ, просигнализи́ровать prosignalizírovatʹ |
Talk about this word "signal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/signal. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. signal. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/signal "signal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/signal.Cite this
@misc{signal_2026,
title = {signal},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/signal},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
