beacons
Signals for navigation
Beacons is the plural of beacon—a light or signal meant to guide or warn.
Lighthouses are beacons for ships; radio beacons guide aircraft.
Figuratively, a beacon is anything that offers hope or direction: She was a beacon of integrity in a corrupt administration.
In technology, beacons are small transmitters that broadcast signals to nearby devices.
To send onward
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- radioElectromagnetic wave receiver
- antennaBroadcast signal receiver
- wirelessUntethered signal transmission
flare · semaphore · frequency · transponder · strobe · buoy · homing · pulse
Land-water boundary
- maritimeOf the sea
- seafaringTraveling by ocean vessel
- shorelineLand-water boundary
- watchtowerElevated structure for surveillance
mariner · sailor · ocean · harbor · port · nautical · foghorn · cliff
Urgent warning signal
- sirenWailing alert device
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- flashingRepeated brief illumination
urgent · distress · hazard · alert · smoke detector · fire alarm · strobe light · caution
Navigation reference location
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
- radarRadio-wave object detection
- landmarkNotable point of reference
- compassDevice showing cardinal directions
bearing · triangulation · heading · course · orientation · positioning · tracking · coordinates
Source of creative impulse
- guiding lightInspirational moral influence
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- promiseCommitment to act
- optimismTendency to expect good
encouragement · symbol · shining example · ray of hope · motivation · uplift · reassurance · direction
Trusted wisdom-giving advisor
- leaderOne who guides others
- role modelPerson others emulate
- trailblazerFirst to forge ahead
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
luminary · pathfinder · torchbearer · guide · exemplar · north star · lodestar · visionary
transmit
To send onward
wireless · flare · semaphore · frequency · transponder · strobe · buoy · homing · pulse · flash
coastline
Land-water boundary
watchtower · mariner · sailor · ocean · harbor · port · nautical · foghorn · cliff · shipwreck
alarm
Urgent warning signal
- sirenWailing alert device
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- evacuationRemoval from danger
flashing · urgent · distress · hazard · alert · smoke detector · fire alarm · strobe light · caution · danger
waypoint
Navigation reference location
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
- radarRadio-wave object detection
- landmarkNotable point of reference
compass · bearing · triangulation · heading · course · orientation · positioning · tracking · coordinates · marker
inspiration
Source of creative impulse
- guiding lightInspirational moral influence
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- promiseCommitment to act
optimism · encouragement · symbol · shining example · ray of hope · motivation · uplift · reassurance · direction · path forward
mentor
Trusted wisdom-giving advisor
- leaderOne who guides others
- role modelPerson others emulate
- trailblazerFirst to forge ahead
pioneer · luminary · pathfinder · torchbearer · guide · exemplar · north star · lodestar · visionary
- lighthousesharbor lights, lighthouse keepers, lightkeepers, lightships
- navigation rulescollision avoidance, give way, right of way, rule of the road, safe speed
- maritimeships, ship, boat, boats, anchors
- location termsGPS, coordinates, latitude, longitude, mapping
- trackerslocation tracker, pet tracker, car tracker, phone tracker, fitness tracker
- Wireless signalsWiFi, Bluetooth, radio waves, cellular, 5G
beaconsdarkness
Total absence of light
blackouts · obscurities · shadows · blind spots · fog
beaconsdecoys
Objects meant to mislead
snares · traps · sirens · misleaders · lures
beaconsdespair
Total absence of hope
hopelessness · confusion · disorientation · darkness · gloom
- beacon lightNavigational warning light
- distress beaconDevice broadcasting location during emergencies
- radio beaconTransmitter broadcasting navigation signals
- beacon of hope
- homing beaconSignal for finding position
- emergency beaconRescue-summoning transmitter