SIGNAL
Content
signal /ˈsɪɡnəl/ (n):
# a movement or sound that you make to give somebody information, instructions, a warning, etc.
SYNONYM sign;
a danger/warning/distress signal
at a signal: At an agreed signal they left the room.
signal to somebody: She made an impatient signal to him, but he ignored her.
signal to do something: He thought he had heard the referee's signal to proceed.
signal for somebody to do something: The siren was a signal for everyone to leave the building.
signal (that)…: We spotted the scout's signal that four enemy soldiers were coming towards us.
signal from somebody: Wait for the signal from the leader of your group.
When I give the signal, run!
(North American English) All I get is a busy signal when I dial his number (= his phone is being used).
hand signals (= movements that cyclists make with their hands to tell other people that they are going to stop, turn, etc.).
# a piece of equipment that uses different coloured lights to tell drivers to go slower, stop, etc., used especially on railways and roads.
The traffic signals were on red.
a stop signal
Delays are occurring as a result of signal failure on the northbound line.
# a series of electrical waves that carry sounds, pictures or messages, for example to a radio, television or mobile phone.
radio signals
TV signals
a digital signal
# an event, an action, a fact, etc. that shows that something exists or is likely to happen.
SYNONYM indication;
signal (that)… The rise in inflation is a clear signal that the government's policies are not working.
The court has given a strong signal that it disagrees with the government's position.
signal of something Chest pains can be a warning signal of heart problems.
Reducing prison sentences would send the wrong signals to criminals.
glimmer /ˈɡlɪmə(r)/ (n):
# a small unsteady light.
We could see a glimmer of light on the far shore.
We saw the glimmer of a distant torch.
# (also glimmering) a small sign of something.
a glimmer of hope
I caught the glimmer of a smile in his eyes.
the glimmering of an idea
sign /saɪn/ (n):
# [countable, uncountable] an event, an action, a fact, etc. that shows that something exists, is happening or may happen in the future.
SYNONYM indication;
Looking back, I should have seen the signs.
a clear/visible sign
an encouraging sign
a positive sign
The fact that he didn't say ‘no’ immediately is a good sign.
If I had noticed the warning signs, none of this would have happened.
Early signs point to business improving.
sign of somebody/something: This move will be seen as a sign of weakness.
Bankers say they can definitely detect signs of a recovery.
Headaches may be a sign of stress.
There is no sign of John anywhere.
Soldiers swarmed the city looking for any sign of her.
There was no sign of life in the house (= there seemed to be nobody there).
Her work is showing some signs of improvement.
I hope this incident isn't a sign of things to come.
Get this test if you have signs and symptoms of diabetes.
He is reading the signs all wrong.
at a sign of something: Call the police at the first sign of trouble.
sign of doing something: The gloomy weather shows no sign of improving.
sign of somebody/ something doing something: There is little sign of this happening in the immediate future.
sign (that)… If an interview is too easy, it's a sure sign that you haven't got the job.
There were no outward signs that anything was wrong.
# [countable] a piece of paper, wood or metal that has writing or a picture on it that gives you information, instructions, a warning, etc.
to put up/post a sign
to carry/hold a sign
a street/stop sign
a shop/pub sign
a traffic sign
The sign read ‘No Fishing’.
The sign on the wall said ‘Now wash your hands’.
There was a 'Closed' sign in the window.
Follow the signs for the city centre.
# [countable] a movement or sound that you make to tell somebody something.
He gave a thumbs-up sign (= to show approval/agreement).
sign from somebody: She was waiting for some kind of sign from him.
At a sign from her, the band would start to play.
as a sign of something: He gave a slight bow as a sign of respect.
sign to do something: She shook her head in a desperate sign to tell the child to remain silent.
sign for somebody to do something: She nodded as a sign for us to sit down.
Three blasts on the whistle was the sign for visitors to leave.
to make the sign of the cross (= an act of moving one hand in the shape of a cross, done by Christians to show respect for God or by a priest to bless somebody/something)
SEE ALSO V-sign;
# [countable] a mark used to represent something, especially in mathematics.
a plus/minus sign (= +/−)
a dollar/pound sign (= $/£)
sign for something the sign for ‘square root’
SEE ALSO call sign, dollar sign, equals sign, pound sign
# [countable] (informal) a star sign (= one of the twelve signs of the zodiac).
What sign are you?
Mars rules the zodiac sign of Aries. (Sao Hỏa cai trị cung hoàng đạo Bạch Dương.)
people born under the sign of Gemini (những người sinh ra dưới cung Song Tử)
the twelve astrological signs (mười hai dấu hiệu chiêm tinh)
>>> a sign of the times (idiom): something that you feel shows what things are like now, especially how bad they are.
The increasing number of people owning guns is an alarming sign of the times.