Definitions for signal
ˈsɪg nlsig·nal

Princeton's WordNet(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. signal, signaling, sign(noun)

   any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

   "signals from the boat suddenly stopped"

2. signal(noun)

   any incitement to action

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

3. signal(adj)

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

4. signal(verb)

   notably out of the ordinary

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

5. sign, signal, signalize, signalise(verb)

   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, signal(verb)

   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. Signal(n.)

   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. Signal(n.)

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

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

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. signal(Noun)

   An indication given to another person.

2. signal(Noun)

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

3. signal(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.

   I cannot get a signal.

4. signal(Noun)

   Useful information.

5. signal(Noun)

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

6. signal(Verb)

   To indicate.

7. signal(Adjective)

   Standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement.

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

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

1. Signal(noun)

   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. Signal(noun)

   a token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign

3. Signal(adj)

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

4. Signal(adj)

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

5. Signal(verb)

   to communicate by signals; as, to signal orders

6. Signal(verb)

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

Origin: [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.

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

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. Jason Chaffetz:

   That does n’t signal change.

2. Barry Kramer:

   That's an important signal to me.

3. David Edwards:

   It's a very different kind of signal.

4. Mauro Cozzoli:

   This is a very strong signal from the Pope.

5. Edwin Hubbel Chapin:

   Ostentation is the signal flag of hypocrisy.

Images & Illustrations of signal

Popularity rank by frequency of use