{
    "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."
}