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.

2. Signalnoun

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

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. signalnoun

   An indication given to another person.

2. signalnoun

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

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.

4. signalnoun

   Useful information.

5. signalnoun

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

6. signalverb

   To indicate.

7. signaladjective

   Standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement.

8. 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

2. Signalnoun

   a token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign

3. Signaladjective

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

4. Signaladjective

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

5. Signalverb

   to communicate by signals; as, to signal orders

6. Signalverb

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

7. 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

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

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. Brian Cookson:

   The UCI was always going to prioritize the image of the sport and the business of the sport over the integrity and the honesty of the sport, and that was a very bad signal that was given out at that time.

2. Jason Chaffetz:

   You just don’t give a promotion, that does n’t signal change.

3. Dan Sumner:

   You can imagine Bunge wanting to send a signal: 'We're not going to put up with this,'.

4. Geng Shuang:

   We believe this shows the United States' desire to reach consensus with China on trade issues, this is a positive signal.

5. Jack Ablin:

   When you close at the low of the day, it's an important signal, the economy is solid but the financial markets are ripe for some kind of correction.

Popularity rank by frequency of use