signal
Indicator of intent
A signal is something that conveys information or triggers action—a gesture, sound, light, or electrical impulse that communicates meaning.
Traffic signals control movement; a signal from the coach tells the runner to steal; electronic signals carry data through wires or airwaves.
To signal is to send such communication: She signaled for the check.
Signal also works as an adjective meaning notable or outstanding: a signal achievement in medicine.
The signal-to-noise ratio, from electronics, now describes any situation where useful information competes with irrelevant clutter.
Radio-wave object detection
- sonarUnderwater detection by echoes
- sensorInput-detecting device
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- antennaBroadcast signal receiver
noise · interference · detection · tracking · imaging · satellite · drone · wavelength
Broadcast signal receiver
- transmitterSignal-emitting device
- radioElectromagnetic wave receiver
- televisionBroadcast viewing device
- frequencyRate of recurrence
airwaves · station · channel · satellite · network · telecast · cable · digital
Oscillating motion through medium
- nodBrief head tilt
- winkBrief one-eyed closure
- saluteGestural sign of honor
- thumbs-upGesture indicating approval
beckoning · pointing · high-five · cue · flare · flag · semaphore · flashlight
Sign revealing status
- markerSomething that signals location
- cueTrigger for action
- hintIndirect suggestion
- omenProphetic indicator
portent · harbinger · bellwether · precursor · symptom · telltale · green-light · warning
Varying signals to transmit
- samplingExtracting subset for study
- encodingConverting data to format
- decodingExtracting meaning from symbols
- filteringSelective passage of elements
amplification · ADC · DAC · binary · quantization · demodulation · waveform · analog
radar
Radio-wave object detection
antenna · noise · interference · detection · tracking · imaging · satellite · drone · wavelength · frequency
antenna
Broadcast signal receiver
- transmitterSignal-emitting device
- radioElectromagnetic wave receiver
- televisionBroadcast viewing device
frequency · airwaves · station · channel · satellite · network · telecast · cable · digital · live
wave
Oscillating motion through medium
thumbs-up · beckoning · pointing · high-five · cue · flare · flag · semaphore · flashlight · whistle
indicator
Sign revealing status
omen · portent · harbinger · bellwether · precursor · symptom · telltale · green-light · warning · alarm
modulation
Varying signals to transmit
- samplingExtracting subset for study
- encodingConverting data to format
- decodingExtracting meaning from symbols
filtering · amplification · ADC · DAC · binary · quantization · demodulation · waveform · analog · digital
Wi-Fi
Wireless network standard
- routerPacket-forwarding network device
- bandwidthData transmission capacity
- latencyDelay in system response
hotspot · 4G · 5G · LTE · broadband · modem · ethernet · fiber-optic · throughput · ping
stoplight
Intersection flow controller
- crosswalkMarked street-crossing zone
- pedestrianOne traveling afoot
- intersectionPoint where paths meet
hazard · blinker · flashing · railroad · crossing · yield · merge · detour · caution · amber
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, messages, dialogue
- communication methodsphone line, radio, telephone, television, text
- broadcastingbroadcasting, TV, radio, television, news
- military termsarmy, navy, air force, marines, soldier
- public transitbus, train, subway, metro, tram
- radioFM radio, crystal set, AM radio, radio station, radio broadcast
signalnoise
Unwanted auditory disturbance
static · interference · distortion · white noise · background noise
signalinsignificant
Lacking importance or consequence
unremarkable · ordinary · unimportant · unexceptional · mediocre
- sign upFormally agree to participate
- stop signRoadside traffic directive
- sign inAuthenticate to access
- warning signIndicator of potential danger
- peace signGesture symbolizing nonviolence
- sign offEnd a broadcast
sign, design, assign, resign, signature, significant, insignia, signals, resignation