smoke signal
A method of long-distance communication sometimes used in ancient and undeveloped societies, consisting of messages conveyed by means of columns or intermittent puffs of smoke.
signal
/ˈsɪɡnəl/
noun 5verb 2adj 1
Collocations
24(noun.) set of lights for drivers
ADJ
railway, traffic
VERB + SIGNAL
operate
SIGNAL + VERB
be (on) red/green
The light was on green, so we drove through the intersection.
fail
SIGNAL + NOUN
box | failure
(noun.) series of radio waves, chemical messages, etc.
ADJ
faint, weak | strong | high-frequency, low-frequency | acoustic, analogue, audio, chemical, digital, electrical, electronic, light, radar, radio, sonar, sound, television/TV, video, wireless
VERB + SIGNAL
carry, pass
The radio tower passes signals across the entire region every day.
convert (sth into), scramble, unscramble
The technician unscrambled the radio signal to hear the emergency message clearly.
emit, generate, send, transmit
detect, pick up, receive, respond to
The satellite was able to pick up the distress signal from the ship at sea.
SIGNAL + VERB
travel
The radio signal traveled thousands of miles across the ocean to reach the ship.
fade
PREP
~ from
The emergency team received a distress signal from the shipwrecked boat.
~ to
(verb.) move your arms to give a signal
ADV
frantically, wildly
The lifeguard signalled wildly from the beach to warn swimmers about the dangerous currents.
PREP
for
The driver honked her horn to signal for help when the car broke down on the highway.
to
The lifeguard signaled to the swimmers that it was time to leave the water.
(verb.) show/mark sth
ADV
clearly
The dark clouds clearly signaled that a storm was coming soon.
effectively
not necessarily
A single mistake does not necessarily signal that someone is incompetent at their job.
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