signal meaning
signal :
a sign, indication
noun
▪ The traffic light is a common signal for drivers.
▪ The traffic light is a sign for drivers.
▪ She gave a signal to start the race.
▪ She gave an indication to start the race.
paraphrasing
▪ sign – indication
▪ gesture – motion
▪ cue – prompt
▪ marker – indicator
signal :
to indicate, to communicate
verb
▪ He signaled the boat to come closer.
▪ He indicated the boat to come closer.
▪ She signaled her friend from across the room.
▪ She communicated with her friend from across the room.
paraphrasing
▪ indicate – show
▪ communicate – convey
▪ convey – send
▪ transmit – pass
Pronunciation
signal [ˈsɪɡ.nəl]
The stress is on the first syllable 'sig' and sounds like 'sig-nul'.
Common phrases and grammar about signal
signal - Common meaning
noun
a sign, indication
verb
to indicate, to communicate
Part of Speech Changes for "signal"
▪ signaling (verb) – sending a sign
▪ signals (noun) – multiple signs
▪ signaled (verb) – sent a sign
▪ signaler (noun) – one who sends signals
Common Expressions with "signal"
▪ traffic signal – traffic light
▪ hand signal – gesture with hands
▪ signal presence – show availability
▪ radio signal – broadcast message
Important examples of signal in TOEIC
Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test
In TOEIC word questions, signal as a noun often refers to signs like traffic lights or indicators, and as a verb, it refers to actions that communicate information.
Example of a confusing word: signify (to mean)
Grammar examples from the TOEIC test
When used as a verb, signal often takes an object to show what is being communicated.
signal
Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC
traffic signal
'traffic light', used when talking about road signs in passages.
give a signal
'give a sign', used when instructing someone to communicate.
Differences between similar words and signal
signal
,
indicate
differences
signal is used to communicate or show something clearly, while indicate can be more general in showing or pointing out.
signal
,
gesture – signal
differences
signal specifically refers to a clear sign or action to communicate, while gesture can be any movement to express something.
Words with the same origin as signal
The origin of signal
signal comes from the Latin word 'signum,' which means 'mark or token.'
Word structure
The word signal is composed of the root 'sign' and the suffix 'al,' meaning 'related to a sign.'
Words with the same origin
The root of signal is 'sign.' Words with the same root include signature, signify, and signatory.
