semaphore
Americannoun
-
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)
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
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
semaphoresimple
-
semaphoressimple
-
have semaphoredperfect
-
has semaphoredperfect
-
am semaphoringprogressive
-
are semaphoringprogressive
-
is semaphoringprogressive
-
have been semaphoringperfect progressive
-
has been semaphoringperfect progressive
Past
-
semaphoredsimple
-
had semaphoredperfect
-
was semaphoringprogressive
-
were semaphoringprogressive
-
had been semaphoringperfect progressive
Future
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
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Code Talker
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Enrique's Journey
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
She taught semaphore - a visual signaling method allowing information to be conveyed at a distance - to troops ahead of D-Day and helped to test the Mulberry Harbours used in the invasion.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2024
Whenever someone got into trouble, Barron would unfurl her semaphore flags and signal for help.
From Seattle Times ● May 30, 2024
On the left shoulder, front, a cluster of schematic semaphore signals evokes his years in the Marines.
From New York Times ● May 5, 2023
You’ve probably seen the semaphore system where years ago people in uniform waved handheld flags to convey messages.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 28, 2022
Then the black pup flashed his tail like a semaphore signal and they all jumped on Jello again.
From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George
“It looked like he was doing semaphores and flagging down airplanes,” O’Donnell said.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 16, 2019
It undermines the piety and ethical lapses in nonfiction mystery shows, while sharing with “Three Billboards” a belief in semaphores and that people aren’t any one thing.
From New York Times ● Jan. 18, 2018
The kids on Bandstand mimicked its manual semaphores and danced to its perky rhythm, eerily similar to Bo Diddley’s signature chugging backbeat.
From Time ● Jan. 19, 2012
Morse, inspired by the French communication system of semaphores, invented the modern electrical telegraph and his famous code and radically changed communications globally.
From Seattle Times ● May 18, 2011
Enrique's Journey Then he sees switches and semaphores.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
The start of today’s race has been semaphored and a group of six riders have attacked off the front of the bunch.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 11, 2019
With these ones ripped up and destroyed, and made into something else entirely, they perhaps semaphored a new era.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 9, 2014
Elsewhere in the opening episode nothing happened that wasn't first semaphored in the previous scene.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 27, 2011
Then, languidly raising his hairy legs and wagging them like flags, the old hand semaphored a request for jam to a pal in the port mizzen.
From Time Magazine Archive
Just before dark they semaphored over from the Dorrilton that they could spare the second steward for duty on the Montauk.
From Tom Slade on a Transport by Clarity, Thomas
Even taskmaster Guardiola was spied clapping on the touchline at one point instead of being his usual manic semaphoring self.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 5, 2016
The further we get from past events the more they seem to be wildly semaphoring messages to us about our news agenda.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 13, 2013
Apple employees may not talk much, but they’ve been semaphoring pretty furiously lately.
From Forbes ● Jul. 8, 2011
In Newmarket, England, a racehorse auctioneer found himself unable to keep up with the spirited semaphoring of the bidders, finally suspended the auction, then learned that his patrons were swatting at a swarm of gnats.
From Time Magazine Archive
I half expected to see the few remaining insects circling him and semaphoring their romantic intentions.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
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.
