Lexic.us

Definition of Signal

1. Adjective. Notably out of the ordinary. "The year saw one signal triumph for the Labour party"

2. Verb. Communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs. "They signal the information to them"; "The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu"

3. Noun. Any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message. "Signals from the boat suddenly stopped"

4. Verb. Be a signal for or a symptom of. "The economic indicators signal that the euro is undervalued"

5. Noun. Any incitement to action. "The victory was a signal for wild celebration"

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

Definition of Signal

1. n. 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.

2. a. Noticeable; distinguished from what is ordinary; eminent; remarkable; memorable; as, a signal exploit; a signal service; a signal act of benevolence.

3. v. t. To communicate by signals; as, to signal orders.

Definition of Signal

1. Noun. An indication given to another person. ¹

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

3. Noun. (of a radio, TV, telephone, internet, etc) An electrical or 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. ¹

4. Noun. Useful information. ¹

5. Noun. (computing Unix) A simple interprocess communication used to notify a process or thread of an occurrence. ¹

6. Verb. To indicate. ¹

7. Adjective. Standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Signal

1. to notify by a means of communication [v -NALED, -NALING, -NALS or -NALLED, -NALLING, -NALS]

Medical Definition of Signal

1. 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) organised 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. Synonym: Eminent, remarkable, memorable, extraordinary, notable, conspicuous. Origin: From signal, n., cf. F. Signale. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Signal

sign of the times sign of the zodiac sign off sign offs sign on sign on the dotted line sign out sign over sign painter sign up

signa signability signable signage signages signal (current term) signal-to-noise signal-to-noise ratio signal-to-noise ratios signal/noise

signal/noise ratio signal box signal boxes signal caller signal crayfish signal detection signal detection (psychology) signal fire signal flag signal level

Literary usage of Signal

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"The signa} cannot again be placed at "safety" until the signal lever has been placed in its normal ("danger") position. This device, therefore, prevents a ..."

2. The Popular Science Monthly (1874)
"It has become necessary, therefore, to rely upon small electrical instruments, miniatures of the out-door semaphores, which direct the signal-man in the box ..."

3. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"To prevent the confusion of signals that this would ordinarily entail special arrangements have been devised, termed the non-interfering succession signal ..."

4. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"It is, however, quite practicable to amplify a radio signal at its radio frequency, pass it through a detector tube and then amplify the resulting audio ..."

5. Nature by Norman Lockyer (1878)
"As a train enters one section, the signal behind it is set at danger, and is not lowered until the train has passed ' into the next section, ..."

6. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"It is, however, quite practicable to amplify a radio signal at its radio frequency, pass it through a detector tube and then amplify the resulting audio ..."

7. Chronological History of the West Indies by Thomas Southey (1827)
"The Breda was disabled in her rigging, but continued to chase them, keeping the signal for action flying; but Captain Kirby, of the Defiance, went on board ..."

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