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signal

noun
/ˈsɪɡnəl/

Etymology

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.

  1. derived from signum
  2. derived from signālis
  3. derived from signāle
  4. derived from segnal

Definitions

  1. A sequence of states representing an encoded message in a communication channel.

  2. Any variation of a quantity or change in an entity over time that conveys information…

    Any variation of a quantity or change in an entity over time that conveys information upon detection.

  3. A sign made to give notice of some occurrence, command, or danger, or to indicate the…

    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.
    • Banner-Repeater signals tend to be provided in locations where drivers receive insufficient warning of the main signal, thereby effectively increasing the sighting distance for the main signal.
  4. ›+ 10 more definitions

    1. An on-off light, semaphore, or other device used to give an indication to another person.

    2. An electromagnetic action, normally a voltage that is a function of time, that conveys…

      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.

    3. An action, change or process done to convey information and thus reduce uncertainty.

    4. A token

      A token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign.

      • The weary sun […] / Gives signal of a goodly day to-morrow.
      • There was not the least signal of the calamity to be seen.
      • Did I get it wrong all along? / You were sending signals / You sent certain signals to me

    5. Useful information, as opposed to noise.

    6. A simple interprocess communication used to notify a process or thread of an occurrence.

    7. A signalling interaction between cells

    8. To indicate

      To indicate; to convey or communicate by a signal.

      • I signalled my acquiescence with a nod.
      • He whistled to signal that we should stop.
      • My arms wheeled frantically in the air as I tried to signal for help.

    9. To communicate with (a person or system) by a signal.

      • Seeing the flames, he ran to the control room and signalled headquarters.

    10. Standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement.

      • a signal exploit; a signal success; a signal act of benevolence
      • As ſignal now in low dejected ſtate, / As earſt in higheſt, behold him where he lies.

The neighborhood

Derived

countersignal, foresignal, hand-signal, immunosignal, missignal, oversignal, phosphosignal, resignal, signalise, signalize, signaller, undersignal, unsignaled, unsignalled

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at signal. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01signal02communication03transferred04transfer05vehicle06medium07signals

A definitional loop anchored at signal. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

7 hops · closes at signal

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA