semaphore

[ sem-uh-fawr, -fohr ]

See synonyms for semaphore on Thesaurus.com

noun

an apparatus for conveying information by means of visual signals, as a light whose position may be changed.
any of various devices for signaling by changing the position of a light, flag, etc.

a system of signaling, especially a system by which a special flag is held in each hand and various positions of the arms indicate specific letters, numbers, etc.

verb (used with or without object),sem·a·phored, sem·a·phor·ing.

to signal by semaphore or by some system of flags.

Origin of semaphore

First recorded in 1810–20; from French sémaphore, from Greek sêma “sign”; see -phore

Other words from semaphore

sem·a·phor·ic [sem-uh-fawr-ik, -for-], /ˌsɛm əˈfɔr ɪk, -ˈfɒr-/, sem·a·phor·i·cal, adjective
sem·a·phor·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby semaphore

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use semaphore in a sentence

She knows how to tell us what her character is thinking without spelling it out in broad emotional semaphore—although the movie around her does a pretty efficient job of that.
Where the Crawdads Sing Is a Drab Attempt at an Empowerment Saga | Stephanie Zacharek | July 15, 2022 | Time
A sailor on her deck began to swing his arms in the curious semaphore language of the sea.
The Onslaught from Rigel | Fletcher Pratt
She flung wild arms of a semaphore signalling national events.
Lord Ormont and his Aminta, Complete | George Meredith
M. Chappe, the inventor of the semaphore, tried about the year 1790 to introduce a synchronous electric telegraph, and failed.
Heroes of the Telegraph | J. Munro
One instant I saw the banker toss his arms like a semaphore; the next we were overborne.
Where the Pavement Ends | John Russell

"Capital idea—semaphore—clever fellow, Jack," shouted Brand.
The Pillar of Light | Louis Tracy

British Dictionary definitions for semaphore

semaphore

/ (ˈsɛməˌfɔː) /

noun

an apparatus for conveying information by means of visual signals, as with movable arms or railway signals, flags, etc
a system of signalling by holding a flag in each hand and moving the arms to designated positions to denote each letter of the alphabet

verb

to signal (information) by means of semaphore

Origin of semaphore

C19: via French, from Greek sēma a signal + -phore

Derived forms of semaphore

semaphoric (ˌsɛməˈfɒrɪk) or semaphorical, adjective
semaphorically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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