semaphore
Americannoun
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an apparatus for conveying information by means of visual signals, as a light whose position may be changed.
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any of various devices for signaling by changing the position of a light, flag, etc.
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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)
noun
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an apparatus for conveying information by means of visual signals, as with movable arms or railway signals, flags, etc
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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
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of semaphore
First recorded in 1810–20; from French sémaphore, from Greek sêma “sign”; see -phore
Explanation
A semaphore is a gadget used for conveying signals. Semaphores have either lights or mechanical arms that move. The word semaphore is related to a Greek word meaning "signal," and that's exactly the purpose of semaphores: they give signals. The place you're most likely to have seen a semaphore is a railroad crossing: the gadget with moving arms is a semaphore. Some semaphores have mechanical arms, while others just use lights to communicate. A semaphore system can also use flags. In all cases, semaphores give visual signals that communicate something important, especially to people traveling.
Vocabulary lists containing semaphore
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Whenever someone got into trouble, Barron would unfurl her semaphore flags and signal for help.
From Seattle Times • May 30, 2024
And do we need so much semaphore to understand our relationships?
From Salon • Jan. 2, 2024
We also found semaphore flags, a vastly outdated way to communicate between units.
From BBC • Feb. 22, 2023
A German market car, it retains the semaphore turn signals that pop up from the B-pillar to indicate a change of direction.
From New York Times • Oct. 7, 2021
She was wearing a jaunty shirtwaist, white with small red and blue semaphore flags.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
