Meaning of signal In English

• 0 an action, movement, or sound that gives information, a message, a warning, or an order:

  • When she gave (them) the signal, they all cheered.

  • [ + that ] The fireworks were a signal that the festival had started.

  • [ + to infinitive ] The police officer gave us the signal to stop.

  • The signal for a race to start is often the firing of a gun.

• 1 a series of electrical or radio waves that are sent to a radio or television in order to produce a sound, picture, or message

• 2 something that shows that something else exists or is likely to happen:

  • The loss is a clear signal of his deteriorating confidence.

  • The changing colour of the leaves on the trees is a signal that it will soon be autumn.

• 3 equipment, especially on the side of a railway or road, often with lights, that tells drivers to stop, continue, or go more slowly:

  • a railway signal

  • a traffic signal

  • a road signal

• 4 to make a movement, sound, flash, etc. that gives information or tells people what to do:

  • Flashing lights on a parked car usually signal a warning (to other drivers).

  • He signalled left, and turned the lorry slowly.

  • He was signalling (= giving a signal) with a red flag.

  • She signalled for help.

  • [ + that ] She signalled to the cars behind her that they were going the wrong way.

  • [ + obj + to infinitive ] The children's mother signalled them to be quiet.

  • [ + to infinitive ] The children's mother signalled to/for them to be quiet.

• 5 to show that you intend or are ready to do something:

  • [ + that ] The union has signalled that the workers will strike.

  • The union has signalled the workers' intention to strike.

  • The death of Chairman Mao signalled (= marked) the end of an era in Chinese history.

• 6 noticeable and unusual:

  • a signal success/failure

• 7 an action, movement, or sound that gives information, a message, a warning, or an order:

  • I tried to call but kept getting a busy signal.

  • When the lieutenant gave the signal, five police officers charged into the apartment.

  • In retrospect, looking at how she was acting, we should have been able to recognize the danger signals.

• 8 a series of energy waves that carry a sound, picture, or other information:

  • a low-frequency radio signal

• 9 unusual and important:

  • You performed a signal service to our people, and we wish to express our gratitude.

• 10 to make a movement, sound, etc. that gives information or tells people what to do:

  • [ I ] When you learn to drive, you are told that you have to signal before you turn right or left.

  • [ T ] The police officer signaled us to stop.

• 11 a sign that something is true or that something is going to happen:

  • a signal to sb It is a signal to the rest of the world that we are serious about global warming.

  • a clear/strong /important signal

  • a signal of sth It was a strong signal of the power now wielded by big institutional investors.

  • mixed/conflicting/contradicting signals

  • the right/wrong signal

  • a positive signal

• 12 a series of electrical or radio waves that are sent to a radio, television, or mobile phone in order to produce a sound, picture, or message:

  • I couldn't get a signal on my phone.

• 13 to show that something is going to happen or that you are going to do something:

  • Drops in sales signal a tough year ahead.

  • signal that It recently signalled that it would not stand in the way of a takeover bid.