喜樂美語

You can picture a signal as something deliberately sent so that someone, somewhere, will read a meaning from it: a wave of the hand, a flash of light, a beep. It is a carrier — one small thing standing in for a message. Everything signal does turns on that: a movement, an event, a radio wave, or a coloured light, all of them carrying information across a gap to whoever is watching or listening.

可以把 signal 想成一個「特意送出去、好讓別人從中讀出意思」的東西：揮一下手、閃一下燈、嗶一聲。它是一個載體——用一個小動作或小訊號，代替一整句話。signal 的所有意思都繞著這個轉：一個動作、一件事、一道電波、一盞號誌燈，全都是把某個訊息越過距離，傳給正在看、正在聽的那一方。

From the word’s history

From Latin 'signum' = a mark or sign. A signal is a sign actively sent to be read.

源自拉丁語 signum，意思是「記號、標記」。signal 就是一個被主動送出去、等著被讀出意思的記號。

Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), 'signal'

登入就可以看每一支怎麼連回核心畫面。

同家族的字

n複數 signals

v過去式 signalled / signaled過去分詞 signalled / signaled-ing signalling / signaling三單 signals

原始詞典資料14 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，摘錄並精簡格式，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

signalnoun/ˈsɪɡnəl/

  • 1

    A sequence of states representing an encoded message in a communication channel.

  • 2

    Any variation of a quantity or change in an entity over time that conveys information upon detection.

  • 3

    A sign made to give notice of some occurrence, command, or danger, or to indicate the start of a concerted action.

    • All obeyed / The wonted signal and superior voice / Of this great potentate.
    • Banner-Repeater signals tend to be provided in locations where drivers receive insufficient warning of the main signal, thereby effectively increasing the sighting distance for the main signal.
  • 4

    An on-off light, semaphore, or other device used to give an indication to another person.

  • 5

    An on-off light, semaphore, or other device used to give an indication to another person.

  • 6

    communicationselectrical-engineeringengineeringAn electromagnetic action, normally a voltage that is a function of time, that conveys the information of the radio or TV program or of communication with another party.

    • My mobile phone can't get a signal in the railway station.
  • 7

    An action, change or process done to convey information and thus reduce uncertainty.

  • 8

    A token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign.

    • The weary sun […] / Gives signal of a goodly day to-morrow.
    • There was not the least signal of the calamity to be seen.
另外 3 個記錄的用法
  • 9

    Useful information, as opposed to noise.

  • 10

    computingengineeringmathematicsA simple interprocess communication used to notify a process or thread of an occurrence.

  • 11

    biochemistrybiologychemistryA signalling interaction between cells

signalverb/ˈsɪɡnəl/

  • 1

    To indicate; to convey or communicate by a signal.

    • I signalled my acquiescence with a nod.
    • He whistled to signal that we should stop.
  • 2

    To communicate with (a person or system) by a signal.

    • Seeing the flames, he ran to the control room and signalled headquarters.

signaladj/ˈsɪɡnəl/

  • 1

    Standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement.

    • a signal exploit; a signal success; a signal act of benevolence
    • As ſignal now in low dejected ſtate, / As earſt in higheſt, behold him where he lies.

摘錄自 英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary，已精簡格式；依 CC BY-SA 4.0 授權使用，改動後的內容同樣以此授權提供。