signal

sig·nal

S0399100 (sĭg′nəl)n.1. a. An indicator, such as a gesture or colored light, that serves as a means of communication. See Synonyms at gesture.b. A message communicated by such means.2. Something that incites action: The peace treaty was the signal for celebration.3. Biology A physical entity, such as a chemical or an electromagnetic wave, that activates a cell receptor and elicits a specific response.4. a. Electronics An impulse or fluctuating quantity, as of electrical voltage or light intensity, whose variations represent coded information.b. Computers A sequence of digital values whose variations represent coded information.5. The sound, image, or message transmitted or received by means of telecommunications.adj. Notably out of the ordinary: a signal feat; a signal event.v. sig·naled, sig·nal·ing, sig·nals or sig·nalled or sig·nal·ling v.tr.1. To make a signal to: I signaled the driver to proceed.2. To relate or make known by signals: They have signaled their willingness to negotiate.3. To cause an effect in (a cell) by the activation of a receptor, as by a neurotransmitter or hormone.v.intr. To make a signal or signals.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin signāle, from neuter of Late Latin signālis, of a sign, from Latin signum, sign; see sign.]

sig′nal·er, sig′nal·ler n.

signal

(ˈsɪɡnəl) n1. any sign, gesture, token, etc, that serves to communicate information2. anything that acts as an incitement to action: the rise in prices was a signal for rebellion. 3. (Telecommunications) a. a variable parameter, such as a current or electromagnetic wave, by which information is conveyed through an electronic circuit, communications system, etcb. the information so conveyedc. (as modifier): signal strength; a signal generator. adj4. distinguished or conspicuous5. used to give or act as a signalvb, -nals, -nalling or -nalled, -nals, -naling or -naledto communicate (a message, etc) to (a person)[C16: from Old French seignal, from Medieval Latin signāle, from Latin signum sign] ˈsignaller, ˈsignaler n

sig•nal

(ˈsɪg nl)

n., adj., v. -naled, -nal•ing (esp. Brit.) -nalled, -nal•ling. n. 1. anything that serves to indicate, warn, direct, command, or the like, as a light, a gesture, or an act. 2. anything agreed upon or understood as the occasion for concerted action. 3. an act, event, or the like that causes or incites some action. 4. a token; indication. 5. an electrical quantity or effect, as current, voltage, or electromagnetic waves, that can be varied in such a way as to convey information. 6. (in cards) a play indicating to one's partner to continue or discontinue the suit led. adj. 7. serving as a signal. 8. unusual; notable; outstanding. v.t. 9. to make a signal to. 10. to communicate or make known by a signal. v.i. 11. to make communication by a signal or signals. [1350–1400; < Medieval Latin signāle, Late Latin, n. use of neuter of signālis of a sign. See sign] sig′nal•er; esp. Brit. sig′nal•ler, n.

signal

, sign - Signal is from Latin signalis, "of a sign," from signum, "mark, token"—from which sign is derived.See also related terms for token.

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.

signal

Past participle: signalled
Gerund: signalling

Imperative
signal
signal

Present
I signal
you signal
he/she/it signals
we signal
you signal
they signal

Preterite
I signalled
you signalled
he/she/it signalled
we signalled
you signalled
they signalled

Present Continuous
I am signalling
you are signalling
he/she/it is signalling
we are signalling
you are signalling
they are signalling

Present Perfect
I have signalled
you have signalled
he/she/it has signalled
we have signalled
you have signalled
they have signalled

Past Continuous
I was signalling
you were signalling
he/she/it was signalling
we were signalling
you were signalling
they were signalling

Past Perfect
I had signalled
you had signalled
he/she/it had signalled
we had signalled
you had signalled
they had signalled

Future
I will signal
you will signal
he/she/it will signal
we will signal
you will signal
they will signal

Future Perfect
I will have signalled
you will have signalled
he/she/it will have signalled
we will have signalled
you will have signalled
they will have signalled

Future Continuous
I will be signalling
you will be signalling
he/she/it will be signalling
we will be signalling
you will be signalling
they will be signalling

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been signalling
you have been signalling
he/she/it has been signalling
we have been signalling
you have been signalling
they have been signalling

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been signalling
you will have been signalling
he/she/it will have been signalling
we will have been signalling
you will have been signalling
they will have been signalling

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been signalling
you had been signalling
he/she/it had been signalling
we had been signalling
you had been signalling
they had been signalling

Conditional
I would signal
you would signal
he/she/it would signal
we would signal
you would signal
they would signal

Past Conditional
I would have signalled
you would have signalled
he/she/it would have signalled
we would have signalled
you would have signalled
they would have signalled

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	signal - any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message; "signals from the boat suddenly stopped"signaling, signcommunication - something that is communicated by or to or between people or groupsrecording - a signal that encodes something (e.g., picture or sound) that has been recordedphone number, telephone number, number - the number is used in calling a particular telephone; "he has an unlisted number"starting signal, start - a signal to begin (as in a race); "the starting signal was a green light"; "the runners awaited the start"storm signal - a signal announcing the approach of a storm (particularly a storm of marked violence)beam, radio beam - a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weatherticktack - system of signalling by hand signs used by bookmakers at racetrackstime signal - a signal (especially electronic or by radio) indicating the precisely correct timedog-ear - a corner of a page turned down to mark your placeanimal communication - communication between animals (of the same species)alarum, warning signal, alarm, alert - an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of dangerdistress call, distress signal - an internationally recognized signal sent out by a ship or plane indicating that help is neededall clear - a signal (usually a siren) that danger is overbugle call - a signal broadcast by the sound of a buglecurfew - a signal (usually a bell) announcing the start of curfew restrictionsretreat - (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous positiondrumbeat - (military) the beating of a drum as a signal for lowering the flag at sundownradiotelegraphic signal, telegraphic signal - a signal transmitted by telegraphywhistle, whistling - the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle; "the whistle signalled the end of the game"high sign - a silent signal of warning or recognition; "she started to speak but he gave her the high sign"symbol - an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significancevisual signal - a signal that involves visual communicationindicator - a signal for attracting attentionelectronic signal - a signal generated by electronic meansradio beacon - a characteristic signal emitted by a transmitter used for navigationinput, input signal - signal going into an electronic systemoutput signal, output - signal that comes out of an electronic system
	2.	signal - any incitement to action; "he awaited the signal to start"; "the victory was a signal for wild celebration"incitation, provocation, incitement - something that incites or provokes; a means of arousing or stirring to action
	3.	signal - an electric quantity (voltage or current or field strength) whose modulation represents coded information about the source from which it comesinterrupt - a signal that temporarily stops the execution of a program so that another procedure can be carried outelectrical energy, electricity - energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor; "they built a car that runs on electricity"
Verb	1.	signal - 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"signalise, signalize, signcommunicate, intercommunicate - transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist"wigwag - signal by or as if by a flag or light waved according to a codesemaphore - send signals by or as if by semaphoreheliograph - signal by means of a mirror and the using the sun's raysflag - communicate or signal with a flagwhistle - give a signal by whistling; "She whistled for her maid"
	2.	signal - 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"bespeak, betoken, indicate, pointaugur, auspicate, bode, omen, portend, foreshadow, presage, prognosticate, predict, prefigure, betoken, forecast, foretell - indicate by signs; "These signs bode bad news"mark - designate as if by a mark; "This sign marks the border"tell - let something be known; "Tell them that you will be late"
Adj.	1.	signal - notably out of the ordinary; "the year saw one signal triumph for the Labour party"impressive - making a strong or vivid impression; "an impressive ceremony"

signal

noun1. flare, rocket, beam, beacon, smoke signal, signal fire They fired three distress signals.2. cue, sign, nod, prompting, go-ahead (informal), reminder, green light You mustn't fire without my signal.3. sign, gesture, indication, mark, note, evidence, expression, proof, token, indicator, manifestation The event was seen as a signal of support.verb1. gesture, sign, wave, indicate, nod, motion, beckon, gesticulate, give a sign to She signalled a passing taxi.2. show, express, display, indicate, make known, announce, declare, register, communicate, proclaim The country was signalling its readiness to have the embargo lifted.3. mark, announce, signify, be a sign of, identify, flag The siren signalled the end of play.

signal

nounAn expressive, meaningful bodily movement:gesticulation, gesture, indication, motion, sign.Informal: high sign.adjectiveReadily attracting notice:arresting, bold, conspicuous, eye-catching, marked, noticeable, observable, outstanding, pointed, prominent, pronounced, remarkable, salient, striking.Idiom: sticking out like a sore thumb.verb1. To communicate by means of such devices as lights or signs:flag, semaphore.2. To make bodily motions so as to convey an idea or complement speech:gesticulate, gesture, motion, sign, signalize.Idiom: give the high sign.

Translations

信号信号机发信号无线电信号暗号

signal

(ˈsignəl) noun1. a sign (eg a movement of the hand, a light, a sound), especially one arranged beforehand, giving a command, warning or other message. He gave the signal to advance. 信号，暗号 2. a machine etc used for this purpose. a railway signal.信号机3. the wave, sound received or sent out by a radio set etc. 无线电信号 verb – past tense, past participle ˈsignalled , (American) ˈsignaled – 1. to make signals (to). The policeman signalled the driver to stop.用信号示意2. to send (a message etc) by means of signals. 用信号通知ˈsignalman noun1. a person who operates railway signals. 信号员2. a person who sends signals in general. He is a signalman in the army. 通信兵，信号员

signal

→ 信号zhCN, 发信号zhCN

signal

[′sig·nəl] (communications) A visual, aural, or other indication used to convey information. The intelligence, message, or effect to be conveyed over a communication system. signal wave

Signal

a sign, physical process, or phenomenon that carries a message about some event or the state of an object or that conveys, for example, a control command or a warning. Any event, however complex, can be represented to a given degree of completeness by a set of signals. According to their nature, signals can be classified in such groups as the following: mechanical signals, such as a deformation or a change in pressure; thermal signals, such as a change in temperature; light signals, which may be flashes of light or visual images; electric signals, which consist of changes in current or voltage; electromagnetic signals, such as radio waves; and sound signals, which consist of sound vibrations.

The information contained in the message is usually represented by a change in one or more parameters of the signal—for example, in the signal’s amplitude (intensity), duration, frequency, width of spectrum, phase, lag time, or polarization (seeMODULATION OF LIGHTandMODULATION OF OSCILLATIONS). Signals can be converted, without changing the information they carry, from one type to another type that is more convenient for subsequent transmission, perception, storage, or processing or that is more suitable for a subsequent purposeful change in the information contained in the message. The conversion of continuous signals into discrete signals is known as signal quantization; in this case, some loss of information is inevitable.

An example of signal conversion is presented by a magnetic sound recording of a musical performance on a piano. The note signs are visually perceived by the pianist as light signals, and he reproduces them by pressing the keys of the piano (mechanical signals). The resulting vibrations of the strings are accompanied by sound vibrations of different frequencies (sound signals). A microphone converts the sound waves into changes in current in a circuit (electric signals). This current induces in the core of a magnetic head an alternating magnetic field (electromagnetic signals), which causes the remagnetization of sections of a magnetic tape and thereby produces the recording proper.

The use of a given signal depends on a number of factors, including the requirements of the specific message-transmission task with regard to, for example, amount of information, speed of transmission or processing, transmission reliability, transmission quality, transmission accuracy, and the noise immunity of the communication channel. Other determining factors are the level and nature of the noise and the feasibility of the receiving and transmitting systems. In radio communication and broadcasting systems, for example, amplitude- or frequency-modulated sinusoidal electric oscillations are used as signals. Transportation signaling systems make use primarily of light signals, such as changes in color or flashing lights and sound signals such as those produced by a horn or siren. For the most part electric, electromagnetic, and, to a lesser extent, light signals are used in the transmission of information over great distances, in the computer processing of information and in the radar and navigational systems of ships and aircraft. Such signals are characterized by their base, which is the product of the width of the signal’s spectrum and the duration of the signal. If the base of the signal is ~ 1, then the signal is said to be simple; if the base is ≫1, then the signal is compound. An important signal parameter in some fields of application, such as radar, is the correlation (or autocorrelation) function (seeCORRELATIONandCORRELATION ANALYSIS). This function characterizes the rate of change of the signal at the output of an optimum detector—that is, a detector matched with the signal—when a change occurs in the frequency or lag time of the input signal. The correlation function is used chiefly to assess the accuracy and resolution of the radar station with respect to target speed and range. For pulsed signals (seePULSE ENGINEERING), the on-off ratio is an important parameter. In sound recording equipment and measuring equipment, signals of nonelectric origin are generally converted into electric signals, as the signals most convenient for such operations as transformation, amplification, and correction.

The concept of a signal was first defined precisely in cybernetics, which drew attention to the four components invariably present in a signal that carries information on a specific event. These components are the physical carrier of the signal, the form of expression of the signal (syntactics), the meaning of the signal (semantics), and the rules governing the attribution of various meanings to the same signal (pragmatics). Semiotics deals with the establishment of the general rules and interrelations of syntactics, semantics, and pragmatics. Information theory studies the general rules governing the conversion and transmission of signals, without regard to the physical nature of the signals.

REFERENCES

Poletaev, I. A. Signal. Moscow, 1958.
Nazarov, M. V., B. I. Kuvshinov, and O. V. Popov. Teoriia peredachi signalov. Moscow, 1970.

A. F. BOGOMOLOV and L. N. STOLIAROV

SIGNAL

(language)A synchronous language by Le Guernic et al ofINRIA.

["SIGNAL - A Data Flow-Oriented Language for SignalProcessing," P. le Guernic, IEEE Trans Acoustics Speech &Signal Proc, ASSP-34(2):362-1986-04-374].

signal

(operating system)A predefined message sent between twoUnix processes or from the kernel to a process. Signalscommunicate the occurrence of unexpected external events suchas the forced termination of a process by the user. Eachsignal has a unique number associated with it and each processhas a signal handler set for each signal. Signals can be sentusing the kill system call.

signal

Any electrical or light pulse or frequency whether in a wire or fiber or wireless. The term is somewhat generic and may refer to virtually anything that is generated and transmitted (power, data, control signals). Although the term may be used by itself later on in a description or article, it is often used at least initially with another word, such as "carrier signal," "data signal" or "control signal." See signal-to-noise ratio and control signal.

Signal vs. Signaling
A "signal" can refer to a data signal or a control signal, but "signaling" refers to transmitting only control signals. It is very common to hear the term in the telecom industry, where "signaling" means setting up and breaking down a call, but does not refer to the actual pulses or frequencies of the data (voice, text, etc.) itself (see SS7 and signaling).

signal

sig·nal

signal

sig•nal

signal

signal

signal

signal

signal

signal

signal

signal

mixed signal

get (a) mixed signal(s)

send (a) mixed signal(s)

get (one's) signals crossed

send a signal

smoke signals

bell, book, and candle

signal boost

signal for (someone or something)

virtue signaling

bell, book, and candle things that are miraculous or that signal that something

signal for someone

signal for something

signal (to) someone (to do something)

smoke signals

bell, book, and candle

signal

signal

Signal

REFERENCES

SIGNAL

signal

signal

signal

sig·nal

signal

signal

signal

sig·nal

Signal

Signal

Signal

signal

SIGNAL

signal

Synonyms for signal

noun flare

Synonyms

noun cue

Synonyms

noun sign

Synonyms

verb gesture

Synonyms

verb show

Synonyms

verb mark

Synonyms

Synonyms for signal

noun an expressive, meaningful bodily movement

Synonyms

adj readily attracting notice

Synonyms

verb to communicate by means of such devices as lights or signs

Synonyms

verb to make bodily motions so as to convey an idea or complement speech

Synonyms

Synonyms for signal

noun any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

Synonyms

Related Words

noun any incitement to action

Related Words

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

Related Words

verb communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs

Synonyms

Related Words