Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Signal |
SignalAdjective1. Notably out of the ordinary; "the year saw one signal triumph for the Labour party". Noun1. Any communication that encodes a message; "signals from the boat suddenly stopped". 2. Any incitement to action; "he awaited the signal to start"; "the victory was a signal for wild celebration". 3. An electric quantity (voltage or current or field strength) whose modulation represents coded information about the source from which it comes. Verb1. 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". 2. 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". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "signal" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Computing | SIGNAL |
Aerospace | 1. A visible, audible, or other, indication used to convey information. 2. The information to be conveyed over a communication system.3. Any carrier of information; opposed to noise. (references) |
Biology & Biotechnology | In the broadest sense, any of the factors which determine ring width or other ring characteristics:climatic signal, geometric signal, individual signal, etc. In the strictest sense, a detectable quality, pattern, or variation in a chronology which can be attributed to meaningful information on climate, environmental, biological, or other conditions limiting growth. Source: European Union. (references) |
Electrical Engineering | A frequency or combination of frequencies transmitted according to a code over a circuit. Source: European Union. (references) |
| A conventional sign generally concerning the movements of railway vehicles and transmitted to the staff entrusted to observe it. Source: European Union. (references) | |
Environment | The volume or product-level change produced by a leak in a tank. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
As the traveling signals of nerves and as the localized changes that contract muscle cells, action potentials are an essential feature of animal life. They set the pace of thought and action, constrain the sizes of evolving anatomies and enable centralized control and coordination of organss and tissuess.
Basic Features
When a biological cell or patch of membrane undergoes an action potential--or "electrical excitation"--the polarity of the transmembrane voltage swings rapidly from negative to positive and back. Within any one "excitable" cell, consecutive action potentials typically are indistinguishable. Also between different cells the amplitudes of the voltage swings tend to be roughly the same. But the speed and simplicity of action potentials vary significantly between cells, in particular between different cell types.
Minimally, an action potential involves a depolarization, a repolarization and finally a hyperpolarization (or "undershoot"). In specialized muscle cells of the heart, such as the pacemaker cells, a "plateau phase" of intermediate voltage may precede repolarization.
Underlying Mechanism
The transmembrane voltage changes that take place during an action potential result from changes in the permeability of the membrane to specific ions, the internal and external concentrations of which cells maintain in an imbalance. In the axon fibers of nerves, depolarization results from the inward rush of sodium ions, while repolarization and hyperpolarization arise from an outward rush of potassium ions. Calcium ions make up most or all of the depolarizing currents at an axon's pre-synaptic terminus, in muscle cells (including the heart's) and in some dendrites.
The imbalance of ions that makes possible not only action potentials but the resting cell potential arises through the work of pumps, in particular the sodium-potassium exchanger.
Changes in membrane permeability and the onset and cessation of ionic currents reflect the opening and closing of "voltage-gated" ion channels, which provide portals through the membrane for ions. Residing in and spanning the membrane, these enzymes sense and respond to changes in transmembrane potential.
Initiation
Action potentials are triggered by an initial depolarization to the point of threshold. This threshold potential varies but generally is about 15 millivolts above the resting potential of the cell. Typically action potential initiation occurs at a synapse, but may occur anywhere along the axon. In his discovery of "animal electricity," Luigi Galvani elicited an action potential through contact of his scalpel with the sciatic motor nerve of a frog he was dissecting, causing one of its legs to kick as in life.
Wave Propagation
In the fine fibers of simple (or "unmyelinated) axons, action potentials propagate as waves, which travel at speeds up to 120 meters per second.
The propagation speed of these "impulses" is faster in fatter fibers than in thin ones, other things being equal. In their Nobel prize-winning work uncovering the wave nature and ionic mechanism of action potentials, Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley performed experiments on the "giant fiber" of Atlantic squid. Responsible for initiating flight, this axon is fat enough to be seen without a microscope (100 to 1000 times larger than is typical). This is assumed to reflect an adaptation for speed. Indeed, the velocity of nerve impulses in these fibers is among the fastest in nature.
"Saltatory" propagation
Many neurons have insulating sheaths of "myelin" surrounding their axons, which enable action potentials to travel faster than in unmyelinated axons of the same diameter. The myelin sheathing normally runs along the axon in sections about 1 mm long, punctuated by unsheathed nodes of Ranvier.
Because the salty cytoplasm of the axon is electrically conductive, and because the myelin inhibits charge leakage through the membrane, depolarization at one node is sufficient to elevate the voltage at a neighboring node to the threshold for action potential initiation. Thus in myelinated axons, action potentials do not propagate as waves, but recur at successive nodes and in effect hop along the axon. This mode of propagation is known as saltatory conduction.
The disease multiple sclerosis (MS) is due to a breakdown of myelin sheathing, and degrades muscle control by destroying axons' ability to conduct action potentials.
Detection and Observation
Action potentials are measured with the recording techniques of electrophysiology. In the case of an archetypal nerve action potential on an oscilloscope, the relatively large swing to a more positive value, followed by the repolarization recovery and undershoot together trace an arc that could be described as a distorted sine wave--or like the blips on hospital EKG machines that can be seen on TV (these EKG waves are a smear of all the action potentials in one heartbeat, so they enact more slowly than any individual "A.P." and have a somewhat more complicated shape). In an unmyelinated axon that is "firing" an action potential, the transmembrane potential at any instant will vary from point to point along the fiber, with its amplitude depending on whether the A.P. wave has reached that point or passed it, and how long ago. A recording from a single point will show the various stages of the action potential enacted--depolarization, repolarization, hyperpolarization--as the wave passes.
Detailed Features
Prototypically, depolarization and repolarization together are complete in about two milliseconds, while undershoots can last hundreds of milliseconds, depending on the cell. In neurons, the exact length of the roughly two-millisecond delay in repolarization can have a strong effect on the amount of neurotransmitter released at a synapse. The duration of the hyperpolarization determines a nerve's "refractory period" (how long until it may conduct another action potential) and hence the frequency at which it will fire under continuous stimulation. Both of these properties are subject to biological regulation, primarily (among the mechanisms discovered so far) acting on ion channels selective for potassium.
In pacemaker and other cardiac muscle cells, inward calcium currents determine shape and duration of the plateau phase, which in turn controls the strength and duration of contraction. See ventricular action potential, atrial action potential, and pacemaker action potential for more details.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Action potential."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
A Signal is a mechanical or electrically operated device that indicates to train drivers when they must stop or may start.
Mechanically Operated Signals
Electrically Operated Signals
Tokens
Before signals were used, a driver was given a physical object called a token to authorise him to use a particular stretch of single track. Since there was only one token for each length of track, the driver could be confident that another train would not meet him from the other direction. The token system has now largely been replaced by signals.
See Also
- Railway signaling
- Signal box
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Railway signal."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
A signal may be:
- An abstract element of information, or more exactly usually a flow of information (in either one or several dimensions). See Signal (information theory)
- In computing, an asynchronous event transmitted between one process and another (in Linux, UNIX and other POSIX-compliant operating systems, and also in several real-time operating system).
- A means of controlling road vehicles, pedestrians or trains. See Traffic signal, Pedestrian crossing or Railway signal.
See also
- Signal processing, noise (physics).
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Signal."
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
A signal is an abstract element of information, or more exactly usually a flow of information (in either one or several dimensions). The signal can be either analog or digital. The former is a continuous flow of information in some framework (the signal value does not need to be continuous), while digital signals are constant within some constant temporal (or spatial) intervals.A typical signal is sound such asspeech whereby the signal carries the information of the spoken words, the identity of the speaker and for example, emotional cues. Another typical signal is a radio transmission which, in turn, can carry the speech sound-signal. Both sound and radio signals are analog signals.
The frequency spectrum of an analog signal can be evaluated with the Fourier transform, which is, in itself a signal.
Examples of digital signals include:
- written language, when encoded as data
- representations of analog signals within a digital framework
- computer generated signals.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Signal (information theory)."
| The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted. | |||
| Entry | Source | Expression | Field |
| SIAM | English | Signal information and monotoring | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |||
Synonyms: SignalSynonyms: signaling (n), bespeak (v), betoken (v), indicate (v), point (v), sign (v), signalize (v). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Alarm | Noun: alarm; alarum, larum, alarm bell, tocsin, alerts, beat of drum, sound of trumpet, note of alarm, hue and cry, fire cross, signal of distress; blue lights; war-cry, war-whoop; warning; fogsignal, foghorn; yellow flag; danger signal; red light, red flag; fire bell; police whistle. |
Command | Issue a command; make a requisition, issue a requisition, promulgate a requisition, make a decree, issue a decree, promulgate a decree, make an order, issue an order, promulgate an order; Noun: give the word of command, give the word, give the signal; call to order; give the law, lay down the law; assume the command; (authority); remand. |
Eventuality | Eventful, stirring, bustling, full of incident; memorable, momentous, signal. |
Greatness | Adjective: great; greater; large, considerable, fair, above par; big, huge; (large in size); Herculean, cyclopean; ample; abundant; (enough) full, intense, strong, sound, passing, heavy, plenary, deep, high; signal, at its height, in the zenith. |
Importance | Adjective: important; of importance; Noun: momentous, material; to the point; not to be overlooked, not to be despised, not to be sneezed at; egregious; weighty; (influential); of note; (repute); notable, prominent, salient, signal; memorable, remarkable; unforgettable; worthy of remark, worthy of notice; never to be forgotten; stirring, eventful. |
Indication | Signal, signal post; rocket, blue light; watch fire, watch tower; telegraph, semaphore, flagstaff; cresset, fiery cross; calumet; heliograph; guidon; headlight. |
Make a sign; n. signalize; underscore; give a signal, hang out a signal; beckon; nod; wink, glance, leer, nudge, shrug, tip the wink; gesticulate; raise the finger, hold up the finger, raise the hand, hold up the hand; saw the air, "suit the action to the word". | |
Warning | Watchtower, beacon, signal post; lighthouse; (indication of locality). sentinel, sentry; watch, watchman; watch and ward; watchdog, bandog, housedog; patrol, patrolman, vedette, picket, bivouac, scout, spy, spial; undercover agent, mole, plainclothesman; advanced guard, rear guard; lookout. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | Well that's Anakin's tracking signal, all right (Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones; writing credit: George Lucas) You'll lose the signal! (Signs; writing credit: M. Night Shyamalan) Pull it the hell over! Let's see, you can't negotiate traffic, you can't signal properly, you can't parallel park (Gone in Sixty Seconds; writing credit: Scott Rosenberg) The only excuse that I could fathom would be acceptable is to tell her that I am indeed Batman, and I'm sorry I just saw that Bat signal out the window (Seinfeld; writing credit: Andreas Lenze; Bea Schmidt) Really? Well, I'll just get the commissioner to signal Batman and then I'll get right on it. (Charmed; writing credit: Colman deKay) | |
Lyrics | That's the nerve you struck in me that sent a signal (Mental Picture; performing artist: Jon Secada) Send a signal that she's hanging (To the Moon and Back; performing artist: Savage Garden) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Storm Signal (1966) Signal 30 (1959) Typhoon Signal No. 10 (1959) Smoke Signal (1955) Le Signal rouge (1948) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
References |
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Books |
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Periodicals | |||
Theater & Movies | |||
Music |
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High Tech |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | Shown is a computer graphic of tgf-beta molecule. Tgf-beta belongs to a superfamily of fetal inducers and regressors, which signal specific patterns of cellular differentiation. Tgf-beta, a cytokine with three different isoforms, regulates many cellular functions including cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion and migration. Four novel receptors were characterized that also act as serine/threonine kinases and one of these appears to be a tgf-beta receptor. Credit: Unknown photographer/artist. |  | A scientist is instructing a highschool student in the procedure of "southern blotting". Single strands of DNA are transferred onto a nitrocellulose filter, exposed to a radioactive labelled probe, which then sticks, or hybridizes, to a specific DNA sequence. These hybridized sequences will then give off a radioactive signal that can be visualized by exposing the filter to x-ray film, a procedure known as autoradiography. Credit: John Crawford (photographer). |
 | Setting a floating signal to help navigate wiredrag operations Wiredrag party of J. H. Hawley. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |  | Pole signal with tin cone for reflecting sunlight Constructed by survey crews under direction of Ferdinand Hassler Sketch by Assistant John Farley - view looking to south across Long Island Sound. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |
 | Building a hydrographic signal - used for near shore hydrographic work. Credit: Paths Less Taken - NOAA at the Ends of the Earth. |  | Beginning to build a hydrographic signal. Credit: Paths Less Taken - NOAA at the Ends of the Earth. |
 | Scientist displaying pop-off electronic tag. This tag is inserted into a fish's flesh and pops off when it has been programmed to do so. It transmits a signal to an ARGOS satellite for tracking large pelagic fish species. Credit: Fisheries. |  | Aquanaut uses a buoy to signal the surface and raise equipment. Credit: National Undersea Research Program (NURP). |
 | This brass signal lantern was the first artifact recovered from the MONITOR. Credit: Sanctuaries. |  | Submarine signal apparatus installed on a lightship and ready to be lowered to 25 feet below the surface. In "Submarine Signaling," Scientific American Supplement, No. 2071, pp. 168-170, Sept. 11, 1915. Credit: Sailing for Science - the NOAA Fleet Then and Now. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
 |  |
| "Semaforo | Headlights Signal" by Gustavo Rodrigues Commentary: "Signal on Porto Alegre street." | "The signal" by Pablo Rosciani Commentary: "The signal." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. | |
| Play | Caption | Play | Caption |
 | Radio signal static. | | Busy signal. |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Author | Quotation |
Edwin Hubbel Chapin | Ostentation is the signal flag of hypocrisy. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
Treaty of Versailles | 1919 | After the expiration of a period of two months from the coming into force of the present Treaty, the total personnel of the German Navy, including the manning of the Deet, coast defences, signal stations, administration and other land services, must not exceed fifteen thousand, including officers and men of all grades and corps, The total strength of officers and warrant officers must not exceed fifteen hundred. (reference) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Title | Author | Quote |
Sylvie and Bruno Concluded | Carroll, Lewis | Lady Muriel gave the signal, and the ladies left the room |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | He felt that the police was somewhere near by in ambush, awaiting the signal agreed upon, and all ready to stretch out its arm. |
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man | Joyce, James | It was the signal for their onset |
Grapes of Wrath | Steinbeck, John | Then he backed away and watched Pa for some kind of signal. |
Gulliver's Travels | Swift, Jonathan | We cast anchor within a league of the town, and made a signal for a pilot |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | As the signal travels through the heart, the heart contracts. (references) | |
When the bladder is full, nerves in your bladder signal the brain. (references) | ||
Pathologists also look carefully for certain changes that signal cancer. (references) | ||
Business | Gaps may signal areas of specialization, market focus, or expertise. (references) | |
AIDC is targeting Boeing, Bombardier Aerospace, GEAE and Allied Signal and several other leading international aviation enterprises. (references) | ||
There was also a sharp increase in procurement from the U.S. in 1996 related to signal and imagery intelligence capability-related projects. (references) | ||
Civil Liberties | Slovak Republic | TV Markiza, a private company with a signal covering two-thirds of the country, is the most watched station. (references) |
Haiti | On March 21, Signal FM reported that it had received repeated anonymous threats against its reporters and its radio programs. (references) | |
South Africa | Although e-tv's signal reaches 75 percent of the population, e-tv's share is consistently only approximately 10 percent of viewers. (references) | |
Economic History | Sri Lanka | Central Bank also used its repurchase rate to signal the direction of interest rates. (references) |
Hungary | An example is the sale of decoder boxes that would allow the user to pirate a cable signal. (references) | |
Slovak Rep | Wages in the Slovak economy appear to have bottomed out, a good signal for growth prospects. (references) | |
Political Economy | COSTA RICA | Satellite signal piracy exists, particularly in rural areas, but major metropolitan cable television operators carry programming that is, in most part, legally acquired. (references) |
Israel | Over the years, U.S. economic and security assistance has been an acknowledgment of these enduring ties, and a signal of a strong and long-lasting U.S. commitment to Israel. (references) | |
India | On the other hand, after the nuclear tests the BJP government cleared a number of pending projects, including several proposals from the United States, in record time, presumably to signal that business would proceed as usual. (references) | |
Trade | Croatia | The government recently annulled the Bank Rehabilitation Act as a signal that it will no longer consider rescuing troubled banks. (references) |
Travel | Vietnam | Usually, the visitor is expected to initiate or signal the closure of the meeting. (references) |
Czech Rep | Czechs do not smile as a social signal of greeting, as Americans, Britons, and many other Westerners do, but only when they are amused or pleased. (references) | |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | REVEILLE, n. A signal to sleeping soldiers to dream of battlefields no more, but get up and have their blue noses counted. In the American army it is ingeniously called "rev-e-lee," and to that pronunciation our countrymen have pledged their lives, their misfortunes and their sacred dishonor. |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Phrase(s) |
Rush Limbaugh | Just as the author of the book Black Hawk Down theorized, our quick, gutless exit out of there was a signal to terrorists around the world that we could be beaten. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
James Madison | 1809-1817 | Instead of holding forth an Asylum to the persecuted, it is itself a signal of persecution. |
James Monroe | 1817-1825 | This enterprise has been marked in a more signal manner by all the objectionable circumstances which characterized the other, and more particularly by the equipment of privateers which have annoyed our commerce, and by smuggling. |
John Quincy Adams | 1825-1829 | The active, persevering, and unremitted energy of Captain Warrington and of the officers and men under his command on that trying and perilous service have been crowned with signal success, and are entitled to the approbation of their country. |
Andrew Jackson | 1829-1837 | In my message at the opening of the last session of Congress I expressed a confident hope that the justice of our claims upon France, urged as they were with perseverance and signal ability by our minister there, would finally be acknowledged. |
Ronald Reagan | 1981-1989 | Your recent passage of the foreign assistance act sent a signal to the world that America would not shrink for making the investments necessary for both peace and security. |
Bill Clinton | 1993-2001 | We don't have to wait for legislation to pass to send a strong signal to the American people that things are really changing. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Signal" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 88.39% of the time. "Signal" is used about 3,037 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 88.39% | 2,684 | 3,419 |
| Lexical Verb (infinitive) | 10.36% | 315 | 16,262 |
| Lexical Verb (base form) | 0.99% | 30 | 63,341 |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 0.13% | 4 | 175,879 |
| Noun (proper) | 0.1% | 3 | 202,518 |
| Unclassified Items | 0.03% | 1 | 339,140 |
| Total | 100.00% | 3,037 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| Country | Name | Country | Name |
| Canada | Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. | Germany | Aqua signal AG |
| Japan | Daido Signal Co., Ltd. | USA | Applied Signal Technologies Incorporated |
| (more examples...) |
Source: compiled by the editor from Icon Group International, Inc.
Expressions using "signal": "Who are you" signal ♦ acknowledgement signal unit ♦ acknowledgment signal unit ♦ acquisition of signal ♦ alarm signal ♦ all clear signal ♦ all trunks busy signal ♦ analog signal processing ♦ analogue signal processing ♦ Applicative Language for Digital Signal Processing ♦ aspect of a signal ♦ ATB signal ♦ awaiting signal ♦ background signal ♦ blanking signal ♦ Block signal ♦ brake signal ♦ Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay ♦ bunched frame alignment signal ♦ busy signal ♦ calling signal ♦ carrier sense signal ♦ carrier signal ♦ character signal ♦ coherent signal ♦ command destruct signal ♦ command signal ♦ component digital signal ♦ correcting signal ♦ Counter signal ♦ danger signal ♦ data signal quality detection ♦ desired signal ♦ differentiating signal ♦ digital signal level 0 ♦ digital Signal Processing ♦ digital Signal Processing Language ♦ digital signal processor ♦ digitally modulated signal ♦ digitised speech signal ♦ digitized speech signal ♦ distinguishing signal ♦ distress signal ♦ electronic signal ♦ enabling signal ♦ end of pulsing signal ♦ engaged signal ♦ excitatory signal ♦ fire off a distress signal ♦ fire signal ♦ flashing signal ♦ fog signal ♦ frame adjustment signal ♦ frame alignment signal ♦ frame synchronisation signal ♦ frame synchronization signal ♦ framing signal ♦ Frost signal ♦ give the signal for firing ♦ hand signal ♦ home signal ♦ ils signal reliability ♦ indication of a signal ♦ inhibiting signal ♦ inhibitory signal ♦ input signal ♦ insertion reference signal ♦ insertion test signal ♦ interfering signal ♦ interval signal ♦ light signal ♦ looped signal ♦ loss of signal ♦ minimum discernible signal ♦ nautical signal flag ♦ Nuclear Localization Signal ♦ number obtainable signal ♦ offering signal ♦ on signal proving ♦ output signal ♦ overrun a signal ♦ parallel regeneration of a digital signal ♦ position of a signal ♦ precautionary signal ♦ print contrast signal ♦ quantised signal ♦ quantized signal ♦ radio signal ♦ radiotelegraphic signal ♦ recognition signal ♦ reorder signal ♦ repeated signal ♦ revertive signal switch ♦ RQ signal ♦ s.o.s signal ♦ sampled signal ♦ Seguin signal symptom ♦ signal area ♦ signal aspect ♦ signal balance ratio for sinusoidal signal generators ♦ signal beacon. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "signal": signal-averaging, signal-bearing, signal-box, signal-boxes, signal-code, signal-extraction, signal-lights, signal-like, signal-power-gain, signal-to-interference ratio, signal-to-noise, signal-to-noise, signal-to-noise ratio. | |
Ending with "signal": small-signal. | |
Containing "signal": multi-signal-scrambling-decoder. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day | Expression | Frequency per Day |
signal | 432 | signal conditioner | 57 |
rf signal generator | 319 | signal stat | 52 |
federal signal | 282 | signal intelligence | 51 |
smoke signal | 258 | federal signal corporation | 49 |
allied signal | 183 | eagle signal | 48 |
traffic signal | 153 | cell phone signal booster | 48 |
digital signal processing | 135 | e signal | 48 |
signal catalog | 98 | signal processing | 47 |
clarita santa signal | 87 | forex signal | 47 |
motorcycle turn signal | 79 | lodge mountain signal | 46 |
signal flag | 75 | turn signal | 46 |
signal booster | 70 | wireless signal booster | 45 |
northwest signal | 69 | ratio signal to noise | 43 |
newspaper signal | 69 | signal transformer | 43 |
signal generator | 67 | kustom signal | 42 |
signal hill | 67 | aqua signal | 41 |
signal conditioning | 65 | signal mirror | 40 |
digital signal processor | 65 | federal signal corp | 39 |
signal mountain tennessee | 57 | general signal | 37 |
hand signal | 57 | satellite signal meter | 37 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Language | Translations for "signal"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Afrikaans | teken (character, mark, sign, token). (various references) | |
Albanian | sinjal (beeper, cue, wigwag), shenjë (accent, aim, auspice, Beck, brand, butt, cue, denotation, denotement, earmark, ensign, evidence, exponent, fleck, foretoken, impress, index, indication, insignia, Mark, marking, obelisk, obelus, office, omen, pledge, pointer, portent, presage, prognostication, scratch, seal, sign, stamp, symbol, symptom, tally, target, token, vestige, Wale, weal), jap sinjal (semaphore). (various references) | |
Arabic | مؤشر (finger, hand, index, indicator, marked, point, telltale), لافتة (name plate, placard, sign, signboard, streamer), ومأ (beckon, gesticulate, gesture, mime, nod, sign), إشاري (indicative), إشارة خطر (sos), إشارة (allusion, cue, denotation, forerunner, gesture, hint, index, indication, innuendo, mark, motion, pitch, prognostic, reference, sign, tip off), إشارات المرور (traffic lights), أشر (indicate, mark, signalize, tick), رائع (admirable, bonny, brag, brave, conspicuous, dazzling, ducks, ducky, effective, elegant, emphatic, entrancing, exceptional, exquisite, extraordinary, fabulous, felicitous, fine, glorious, gorgeous, grand, heavenly, in apple-pie order, irresistible, lovely, magnificent, marvellous, marvelous, mighty, miraculous, noteworthy, out of this world, outstanding, palmy, picturesque, portentous, precious, prestigious, rattling, recherche, remarkable, ripening, ripping, sensational, showy, sightly, singular, smash, smashing, solid, some, spanking, sparkling, splendid, stunning, stupendous, super, superb, swell, terrific, topping, tremendous, uncommon, wonder, wonderful, wondrous), بارز (beetle, conspicuous, distinct, distinguished, duel, eminent, featured, fence, great, in the first flight, lofty, memorable, monumental, noble, notable, noticeable, outstanding, pointed, profile, prognathous, projecting, prominent, protruding, protuberant, remarkable, salient, striking, uncommon). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | семафор (semaphore), сигнален (alarm, sematic), сигнализация (signaling), сигнализирам на, сигнализирам за, сигнал, знак (badge, check, denotation, ensign, indication, parallel, patent, peg, place, seal, sign, symptom, type, vestige), забележителен (eminent, extraordinary, incredible, memorable, notable, noteworthy, proud, remarkable, salient, some, thumping, unco, unique, unusual, wonderful), повод (cause, ground, halter, handle, motive, occasion, peg, reason, rein, room, subject), импулс (impulse, inspiration, momentum, motion, pulse, urge), изключителен (especial, exceptional, exceptive, exclusive, extraordinary, inimitable, one in a thousand, phenomenal, rare, rousing, super, superior, surpassing, unaverage, uncommon, unexampled, unique, unusual, vintage), давам сигнал на, давам сигнал за, давам знак на (hail), давам знак за. (various references) | |
Catalan | senyal (mark, sign, token). (various references) | |
Chinese | 手勢 (gesture, sign), 信號 , 信号. (various references) | |
Czech | signalizovat, signál (beam, call), znamenitý (able, classic, excellent, exquisite, wonderful), znamení (presage, sign, sign of the zodiac, tip off, token), vyjádřit znamením, pozoruhodný (extraordinary, impressive, notable, noteworthy, noticeable, portentous, remarkable, singular, spectacular, striking, uncommon), dát znamení (wink). (various references) | |
Danish | signal (mark, sign, token). (various references) | |
Dutch | signaal (mark, sign, token), seinen, sein (mark, sign, token), een sein geven. (various references) | |
Esperanto | signo (character, mark, sign, token), signalo (mark, sign, token), signali. (various references) | |
Faeroese | tekin (character, mark, sign, token). (various references) | |
Farsi | مشخص (Antiseptic, Ditinct), نشان (Aim, Attribute, Badge, Banner, Brand, Clue, Emblem, Ensign, Hallmark, Impress, Mark, Medal, Memento, Plaque, Presage, Score, Seal, Show, Sign, Stamp, Standard, Symbol, Symptom, Tally, Target, Token, Trace, Track, Tract), علامت (Allegory, Badge, Banner, Brand, Emblem, Mark, Marker, Name, Presage, Showing, Sign, Stripe, Symbol, Symptom, Tally, Tick, Token), خبردادن (Announce, Delate, Predicate), اخطار (Alarm, Caveat, Notice, Notification, Premonition, Tipoff), اشکار (Apparent, Bare, Conspicuous, Evident, Explicit, Manifest, Obvious, Open, Out, Overt, Palpable, Plain), راهنما (Adviser, Clue, Conductor, Guidance, Guide, Guideline, Key, Keyword, Landmark, Leader, Lodestar, Pacemaker, Polestar, Usher), باعلامت ابلاغ کردن , بااشاره رساندن . (various references) | |
Finnish | signaali, viestittää, viesti (message, tidings, word), opastin (semaphore), merkki (character, indication, make, mark, sign, token). (various references) | |
French | signal (sign), signaler (signalize). (various references) | |
German | Signal (call, mark, sign, token), Zeichen (bookmark, character, chars, figure, icon, identification, indication, Mark, marker, notation, omen, portent, punctuation mark, reference, sign, signs, symbol, token), signalisieren (signalize, to signal). (various references) | |
Greek | σύνθημα (catchword, cue, password, sign, slogan, watch word, watchword), σημείο (note, place, point, prodigy, sign, spot, token, virgule), σήμα (badge, banderol, banderole, pennant, sign, trademark), νεύω (beckon, nod, sign, wink). (various references) | |
Hebrew | מובהק (bold, distinct, pronounced, rank, salient), יוצא דופן (eccentric, erratic, exceptional, exotic, extraordinary, irregular, maverick, singular, unusual), לאתת, לאותת (beckon, give signs, indicate, sign), לסמן (designate, indicate, sign, signify), תמרור (milestone, road sign, signpost, traffic sign), אתות (signalling), אות (beckon, cue, decoration, emblem, indication, letter, note, sign, signature, symbol, token), בולט (noticeable, outstanding, prominent, protruding, protrusive, salient, staring), סימן (indication, score, sign, symbol, tinge, token, trace). (various references) | |
Hungarian | kiváló (accomplished, brilliant, choice, conspicuous, crack, crackerjack, distinguished, excellent, finished, first rate, great, high-class, illustrious, masterly, noted, paramount, pre eminent, premium, prime, prominent, rattling, to send sy one's kind regards), jelzés (adumbration, blaze, indication, insignia, marker, marking, reading, score, sign, signalling, signification), jel (augury, beacon, characteristic, cue, denotation, label, logo, Mark, note, omen, par, sign, symbol, token). (various references) | |
Indonesian | sinyal (alert), tanda (alert, apostrophe, auspice, hallmark, indication, mark, seal, sign, tally, token), mengisyaratkan (beckon). (various references) | |
Italian | segnale (marker, pip, sign), segno (badged, character, degree, gesture, indication, mark, nod, note, scar, score, shadow, sign, stigma, suspicion, symbol, symptom, target, tick, token). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 通信 (communication, correspondence, news), 目顔 (look), 号音 (starting gun signal), シクラミン酸ナトリウム (Cyclamen, sigma, signature, sodium cyclamate), 信号機 (semaphore), 信号 (semaphore, traffic lights), 合図 (sign). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | しんごうき (semaphore, signal flag), しんごう (semaphore, traffic lights), つうしん (communication, correspondence, heartache, news, worry), ごうおん (starting gun signal, thunderous roar), めがお (look), あいず (sign), シグナル . (various references) | |
Korean | 신호 (reminder, signaling, Signalling). (various references) | |
Manx | cowrey (attribute, badge, beacon, brand, caret, character, check, denotation, emblem, evidence, feature, gesture, hint, indication, intimation, mark, marque, motion, sign, stamp, symbol, symptom, token, trace, wealth). (various references) | |
Papiamen | señal (character, mark, sign, token), seña (character, mark, sign, token). (various references) | |
Pig Latin | ignalsay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | sinal (alarm, beck, character, denotation, denotement, deposit, gesture, guide, handsel, hansel, impress, imprint, index, indication, mark, note, pledge, rubber stamp, scar, seal, sign, signature, spot, stamp, symptom, tincture, token, trace, track, vestige). (various references) | |
Romanian | signal (whistle), semnaliza (message), semnala (indicate, notify, point out, record, report, show, stamp), semnal (code, pre-print, sign, target), semn (auspice, badge, Beck, brand, character, denotation, dint, emblem, evidence, Favor, favour, gesture, impress, index, indication, mark, note, office, portent, print, property, scar, score, scratch, seal, sign, splash, spot, symbol, symptom, token, trace, track, vestige, wave), face semnale, da un semnal, însemnat (big, considerable, great, important, marked, noted, remarkable, significant). (various references) | |
Russian | сигнализировать сигнал сигнальный, сигнализировать (annunciate, flagged, semaphore, semaphoring, signaled, signalize, signalled), сигнал (beep, bells, call, horn), знак (brocket, character, denotation, denotement, designation, note, omen, sign, token, wreck mark). (various references) | |
Scottish | caismeachd (an alarm, march tune, war song). (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | signalni uređaj (annunciator), signalizirati (message), signal (marker, warning), semafor (scoreboard, semaphore, traffic light), znak (denotement, mark, marker, omen, pledge, semblance, sign, symbol, symptom, telltale, token, wings), migavac (turn signal), davati signale. (various references) | |
Spanish | señal (bookmark, cue, deposit, impress, impression, Mark, marker, motion, note, print, punch mark, score, sign, token, trace, wave), seña (Beck, character, mark, sign, token, trace). (various references) | |
Swedish | signal (call, mark, sign, token), signalera (wigwag), märklig (historic, notable, noteworthy, remarkable, singular, singularis). (various references) | |
Thai | ให้สัญญาณ (signalize), เด่น (thumping), ส่งสัญญาณ, สัญญาณ, ลาง (sign), ซึ่งเป็นสัญญาณ. (various references) | |
Turkish | sinyâl vermek (beam), sinyâl, uyarı işareti (precautionary signal), muhabere, işaretle bildirmek (signalize), işaret etmek (beckon, betoken, designate, indicate, make a sign, point, point at, point out, point to, sign, signalize), işaret (augury, badge, character, chop, clew, clue, cue, device, distinguishing mark, earmark, ensign, foretoken, gesture, glimpse, graph, harbinger, hint, index, indication, indicator, landmark, logo, logotype, marker, note, pip, prognostic, prognostication, representation, sign, signature, symbol, symptom, token, touch, trace), göze çarpan (arresting, bold, broad, conspicuous, crying, demonstrative, noticeable, ostensible, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, salient, sharp, staring, visible), dikkat çekici (arresting, conspicuous, egregious, eye-catching, marked, remarkable, salient, spectacular, striking, well-marked), bildirmek (acquaint, advise, affirm, announce, annunciate, communicate, declare, enunciate, give forth, give out, Herald, impart, indicate, inform, intimate, issue, let know, let smb. know, Lodge, notice, notify, offer, pass, proclaim, pronounce, put up, report, say, serve notice, signalize, state, tell, vote). (various references) | |
Turkmen | signal (r). (various references) | |
Ukrainian | сигналізувати (flag, signalize), сигнал (cue, note, sounding, warning, watchword, wave), війська зв'язку, видатний (big time, conspicuous, egregious, eminent, extant, laureate, leading, notable, noted, only, outstanding, pre eminent, prominent, remarkable, shining, stellar, transcendent, walloping), знак (dagger, denotation, denotement, designation, icon, ikon, index, note, office, omen, point, seal, sign, token, warning), блискучий (brilliant, coruscating, crackajack, crackerjack, crackling, glossy, incandescent, lambent, luminous, lustrous, nitid, oriental, polished, quicksilver, radiant, resplendent, sensational, shining, showy, sparkling, splendent, splendid). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | tín hiệu (call-sign, call-signal), nổi tiếng; gương mẫu; nghiêm minh dùng làm dấu hiệu, hiệu lệnh, dấu hiệu (badge, note, sign, signature, token), đang kể, để ra hiệu, đáng chú ý (conspicuous, noteworthy, noticeable, significant). (various references) | |
Welsh | arwydd (ensign, portent, sign). (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Greek | 700 BCE-300 CE | sema. (various references) |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | signa, signi, significationem, signis, signo, signorum, signum, signumque. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "signal": signaled, signaler, signalers, signaling, signalise, signalised, signalises, signalising, signalization, signalizations, signalize, signalized, signalizes, signalizing, signalled, signaller, signallers, signalling, signally, signalman, signalmen, signalment, signalments, signals. (additional references) | |
| |
"Signal" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Bignell, Hignell, isogonal, Osengell, Sagnella, sanal, Sangak, Sangallo, segal, Sengul, shingal, Sianel, Sidnell, sienal, Sigall, signa, Signaal, signale, signel, Sigonella, sinal, Sinaloa, Sogna, Stigand, Yigal. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "signal" (pronounced si"gnul) |
| 3 | -n u l | infernal, abdominal, aberrational, aboriginal, additional, adrenal, anal, annal, annul, Arsenal, atonal, attitudinal, autumnal, binational, biphenyl, cantonal, Cardinal, carnal, channel, coeducational, collisional, Colonel, communal, compositional, computational, concessional, conditional, confessional, conformational, confrontational, congregational, congressional, connotational, constitutional, conventional, conversational, cornel, correctional, criminal, Darnel, delusional, denominational, departmental, depositional, devotional, diagonal, dimensional, directional, diurnal, divisional, doctrinal, duodenal, dysfunctional, educational, emotional, empanel, erosional, eternal, exceptional, external, factional, faunal, fennel, fictional, final, flannel, fluxional, foundational, fractional, fraternal, functional, funnel, gastrointestinal, generational, gravitational, hexagonal, hormonal, Hymnal, impanel, impersonal, improvisational, spinal, subliminal, superregional, supranational, terminal, informational, inspirational, institutional, instructional, intentional, intergenerational, internal, international, interpersonal, intestinal, investigational, Invitational, irrational, journal, jurisdictional, juvenile, kennel, kernel, latitudinal, longitudinal, luminal, marginal, maternal, medicinal, monoclonal, monsoonal, morainal, motivational, multinational, national, navigational, nocturnal, nominal, noncriminal, nonprofessional, nontraditional, nutritional, obsessional, occasional, occupational, octagonal, operational, optional, organizational, original, panel, paternal, penal, personal, phenomenal, polygonal, polyvinyl, processional, professional, promotional, proportional, provisional, rational, recreational, regional, relational, renal, representational, retinal, rotational, seasonal, sectional, semifinal, seminal, sensational, sentinel, shrapnel, situational, tonal, traditional, transformational, transitional, transnational, tribunal, tunnel, unconditional, unconstitutional, unconventional, unemotional, unintentional, unprofessional, untraditional, vaginal, venal, vernal, Vinal, vinyl, virginal, vocational. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
Direct Anagrams: algins, aligns, lasing, liangs, ligans, lingas. | |
| Words within the letters "a-g-i-l-n-s" | |
-1 letter: algin, align, anils, gains, glans, glias, liang, ligan, linga, lings, nails, slain, slang, sling, snail. | |
-2 letters: agin, ails, ains, anil, anis, gain, gals, gins, glia, lags, lain, lang, ling, lins, nags, nail, nils, sail, sain, sang, sial, sign, sing, slag, snag. | |
-3 letters: ail, ain, ais, als, ani, gal, gan, gas, gin, ins, lag. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-g-i-l-n-s" | |
+1 letter: ablings, agnails, gingals, jingals, lacings, ladings, lakings, lapsing, lashing, lasting, lawings, leasing, ligands, linages, lingams, linsang, maligns, nilgais, nilgaus, palings, sailing, salting, salving, sapling, scaling, sealing, signals, slaking, slating, slaving, slaying, staling. | |
+2 letters: aligners, analgias, anglings, antilogs, avulsing, blasting, callings, carlings, castling, catlings, clashing, clasping, classing, darlings, dealings, dialings, eanlings, elapsing, engrails, ensilage, failings, fatlings, finagles, flashing, gainless, galleins, gasoline, gelatins, genitals, gingalls, glassine, glassing, glazings, gliadins, glossina, graplins, hassling, healings, isogonal, jingalls, laggings, landings, languish, lapwings, lashings, lassoing, lastings, lathings, leadings, leanings, leashing, leasings, leavings, liaising, lineages, linguals, linkages, linsangs, loadings, loanings, mailings, marlings, misalign, nargiles, nilghais, nilghaus, nylghais, palsying, plashing, platings, pleasing, psalming, railings, rassling, realigns, ringhals, saddling, sailings, sallying, saltings, saluting, salvoing, sampling, sandling, saplings, savingly, scalding, scalping, shauling, shawling, shealing, shoaling, signaled, signaler, signally, singable, singular, skoaling, slabbing, slacking, slagging, slamming, slangier, slangily, slanging, slanting, slapping, slashing, slatings, slatting, slayings, sleaving, snaglike, snailing, snarling, solacing, solating, spalling, sparling, splaying, springal, stabling, stalking, stalling, stapling, starling, stealing, tailings, talkings, walkings, warsling, whalings, yealings. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Images: Slideshow 7. Images: Photo Album 8. Images: Digital Art | 9. Sounds 10. Quotations: Familiar 11. Quotations: Historic 12. Quotations: Fiction | 13. Quotations: Non-fiction 14. Quotations: Spoken 15. Quotations: Speeches 16. Usage Frequency | 17. Names: Company Usage 18. Expressions 19. Expressions: Internet 20. Translations: Modern | 21. Translations: Ancient 22. Abbreviations 23. Acronyms 24. Derivations | 25. Rhymes 26. Anagrams 27. Bibliography |
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