Definitions for signal
ˈsɪg nlsig·nal

Princeton's WordNet(1.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. signal, signaling, signnoun

   any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

   "signals from the boat suddenly stopped"

2. signalnoun

   any incitement to action

   "he awaited the signal to start"; "the victory was a signal for wild celebration"

3. signaladjective

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

4. signalverb

   notably out of the ordinary

   "the year saw one signal triumph for the Labour party"

5. sign, signal, signalize, signaliseverb

   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"

6. bespeak, betoken, indicate, point, signalverb

   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"

GCIDE(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Signalnoun

   Hence: (Electronics) A measureable electrical quantity, such as voltage or current, that conveys information by varying in magnitude over time; as, the signals from the strongest commercial radio stations can be received over hundreds of miles.

   Etymology: [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.]

2. Signalnoun

   A token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign; anything taken as evidence of some process.

   Etymology: [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.]

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. signalnoun

   An indication given to another person.

   Etymology: From segnal, seignal or signale, noun use of the neuter of signalis, from signum.

2. signalnoun

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

   Etymology: From segnal, seignal or signale, noun use of the neuter of signalis, from signum.

3. signalnoun

   (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.

   I cannot get a signal.

   Etymology: From segnal, seignal or signale, noun use of the neuter of signalis, from signum.

4. signalnoun

   Useful information.

   Etymology: From segnal, seignal or signale, noun use of the neuter of signalis, from signum.

5. signalnoun

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

   Etymology: From segnal, seignal or signale, noun use of the neuter of signalis, from signum.

6. signalverb

   To indicate.

   Etymology: From segnal, seignal or signale, noun use of the neuter of signalis, from signum.

7. signaladjective

   Standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement.

   Etymology: From segnal, seignal or signale, noun use of the neuter of signalis, from signum.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Signalnoun

   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

   Etymology: [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.]

2. Signalnoun

   a token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign

   Etymology: [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.]

3. Signaladjective

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

   Etymology: [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.]

4. Signaladjective

   of or pertaining to signals, or the use of signals in conveying information; as, a signal flag or officer

   Etymology: [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.]

5. Signalverb

   to communicate by signals; as, to signal orders

   Etymology: [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.]

6. Signalverb

   to notify by a signals; to make a signal or signals to; as, to signal a fleet to anchor

   Etymology: [F., fr. LL. signale, fr. L. signum. See Sign, n.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Signal

   sig′nal, n. a sign for giving notice, generally at a distance: token: the notice given: any initial impulse.—v.t. and v.i. to make signals to: to convey by signals:—pr.p. sig′nalling; pa.t. and pa.p. sig′nalled.—adj. having a sign: remarkable: notable: eminent.—ns. Sig′nal-book, a book containing a system of signals; Sig′nal-box, -cab′in, &c., a small house in which railway-signals are worked: the alarm-box of a police or fire-alarm system; Sig′nal-code, a code or system of arbitrary signals, esp. at sea, by flags or lights; Sig′nal-fire, a fire used for a signal; Sig′nal-flag, a flag used in signalling, its colour, shape, markings, and combinations indicating various significations; Sig′nal-gun, a gun fired as a signal.—v.t. Sig′nalise, to make signal or eminent: to signal.—ns. Sig′nal-lamp, a lamp by which signals are made by glasses or slides of different colours, &c.; Sig′nalling, the means of transmitting intelligence to a greater or less distance by the agency of sight or hearing.—adv. Sig′nally.—ns. Sig′nalman, one who makes signals and who interprets those made; Sig′nalment, the act of communicating by signals: description by means of marks; Sig′nal-post, a pole on which movable flags, arms, lights, are displayed as signals; Sig′nal-ser′vice, the department in the army occupied with signalling. [Fr.,—L. signalis, signum.]

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. signal

   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.

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. signal

   Any sign made for marching, fighting, etc. Signals are likewise given by the drum, bugle, and trumpet, during the exercise of a battalion. See Signal Service.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. signal

   A sequence of digital values with coded information.

   The signals between computer, networks and servers have a signal which communicate at superluminal speed.

   Submitted by MaryC on April 5, 2020  

2. signal

   To communicate data or information through a telecommunications system or satellite system.

   The signals from the telecommunications system and satellite systems were very efficient and communicationg at superluminal speed.

   Submitted by MaryC on April 5, 2020  

3. signal

   To communicate data or information.

   The radio and TV signals are excellent and are mostly digital in most countries in 2020

   Submitted by MaryC on January 19, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Communication
   • Incitement

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'signal' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3542

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'signal' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3977

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'signal' in Nouns Frequency: #989

4. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'signal' in Verbs Frequency: #853

Anagrams for signal »

1. algins, aligns, lasing

2. Algins

3. Aligns

4. Lasing

How to pronounce signal?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say signal in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of signal in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of signal in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of signal in a Sentence

1. Christophe Snoeck:

   We did not expect to see so many individuals having a signal that shows they did not [ live ] near Stonehenge in the last decade or so of their life, to me the really remarkable thing about our study is the ability of new developments in archaeological science to extract so much new information from such small and unpromising fragments of burnt bone.

2. Sebastian Barbe:

   Oil prices have been supported by the production freeze agreement between Russia and Saudi Arabia - Iran gave it a cautious welcome and the market wants to take this as a positive signal.

3. Peter Jankovskis:

   (Powell) suggested that they're keeping an eye on trade developments and people are looking at that as a signal that they may moderate their rate increases if they see some signs of danger.

4. Skip Davis:

   Last year was a big signal that the Afghan army and police need some more time, they are resilient, they fought well and they took on leadership, but at the same time, they had some significant challenges and the Taliban proved much more resilient than we expected and less likely to come to the table for reconciliation.

5. Ajay Gambhir:

   Without it, the country will be lacking a very important signal in decarbonizing a sector which emits a lot.

Images & Illustrations of signal

Popularity rank by frequency of use