word-vault

{ "term": "signal", "partOfSpeech": "noun", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "b1", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "a movement or sound that you make to give somebody information, instructions, a warning, etc.", "sensetop": "at a signalsignal to somebodysignal to do somethingsignal for somebody to do somethingsignal (that)…signal from somebody", "labels": "(North American English)", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "a danger/warning/distress signal" }, { "text": "At an agreed signal they left the room.", "contextForm": "at a signal" }, { "text": "She made an impatient signal to him, but he ignored her.", "contextForm": "signal to somebody" }, { "text": "He thought he had heard the referee's signal to proceed.", "contextForm": "signal to do something" }, { "text": "The siren was a signal for everyone to leave the building.", "contextForm": "signal for somebody to do something" }, { "text": "We spotted the scout's signal that four enemy soldiers were coming towards us.", "contextForm": "signal (that)…" }, { "text": "Wait for the signal from the leader of your group.", "contextForm": "signal from somebody" }, { "text": "When I **give the signal**, run!" }, { "text": "All I get is a **busy signal** when I dial his number *(= his phone is being used)*." }, { "text": "**hand signals** *(= movements that make with their hands to tell other people that they are going to stop, turn, etc.)*" }, { "text": "At a pre-arranged signal, everyone started cheering." }, { "text": "He had arranged a signal for the band to begin." }, { "text": "She made a signal for the car to stop." }, { "text": "The insect's yellow spots act as a warning signal to its predators." }, { "text": "The brain interprets the signals from the retina as light." }, { "text": "The nerves carry these signals to the brain." } ], "synonyms": "sign", "collocations": { "adjective": ["clear", "unmistakable", "agreed"], "verb + signal": ["give (somebody)", "make", "send"], "signal + verb": ["come from something", "indicate something"], "preposition": ["at a signal", "on a signal", "signal for"] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "a piece of equipment that uses different coloured lights to tell drivers to go slower, stop, etc., used especially on railways and roads", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The **traffic signals** were on red." }, { "text": "a stop signal" }, { "text": "Delays are occurring as a result of signal failure on the northbound line." } ], "topics": ["Transport by car or lorry"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["railroad", "railway", "traffic"], "verb + signal": ["operate"], "signal + verb": ["be on red/green", "be red/green", "fail"], "signal + noun": ["box", "failure"] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "a series of electrical waves that carry sounds, pictures or messages, for example to a radio, television or mobile phone", "sensetop": "signal from something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "**radio signals**" }, { "text": "TV signals" }, { "text": "a **digital signal**" }, { "text": "a high-frequency signal" }, { "text": "a radar signal" }, { "text": "to emit a signal" }, { "text": "to detect/pick up signals" }, { "text": "I couldn't **get a signal** on my phone." }, { "text": "The **signal is received** by three different antennas at slightly different times." }, { "text": "The satellite is used for **transmitting signals** around the world." }, { "text": "The signal from the transmitter seems to have been boosted.", "contextForm": "signal from something" }, { "text": "It is possible to jam GPS signals in battle." }, { "text": "The digital signal travels down wires to the server." }, { "text": "The signal is scrambled into code before it is sent." }, { "text": "This equipment can detect very low frequency signals." }, { "text": "a faint signal from the satellite" } ], "topics": ["TV, radio and news"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["faint", "weak", "strong"], "verb + signal": ["carry", "pass", "relay"], "signal + verb": ["travel", "fade"], "signal + noun": ["intensity", "strength"], "preposition": ["signal from", "signal to"] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "an event, an action, a fact, etc. that shows that something exists or is likely to happen", "sensetop": "signal (that)…signal of something", "cefr": "b2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "The rise in inflation is a **clear signal** that the government's policies are not working.", "contextForm": "signal (that)…" }, { "text": "The court has given a strong signal that it disagrees with the government's position." }, { "text": "Chest pains can be a **warning signal** of heart problems.", "contextForm": "signal of something" }, { "text": "Reducing prison sentences would **send the wrong signals** to criminals." }, { "text": "Interviewers quickly learn to pick up non-verbal signals." }, { "text": "The remark was interpreted as a signal that their government was ready to return to the peace talks." }, { "text": "Try to read the signals coming from the patient." }, { "text": "the signals that can indicate danger" } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["clear", "unmistakable", "agreed"], "verb + signal": ["give (somebody)", "make", "send"], "signal + verb": ["come from something", "indicate something"], "preposition": ["at a signal", "on a signal", "signal for"] } } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/ˈsɪɡnəl/", "audio": "si/signal/signal__gb_1.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/ˈsɪɡnəl/", "audio": "si/signal/signal__us_4.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "noun late Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin signale, neuter of late Latin signalis, from Latin signum ‘mark, token’. The verb dates from the early 19th cent." }