telltale

American  

[tel-teyl] / ˈtɛlˌteɪl /

noun

1. a person who heedlessly or maliciously reveals private or confidential matters; tattler; talebearer.

2. a thing serving to reveal or disclose something.

3. any of various indicating or registering devices, as a time clock.

4. Music. a gauge on an organ for indicating the air pressure.

5. an indicator showing the position of a ship's rudder.

6. a row of strips hung over a track to warn train crew members on freight trains that a low bridge, tunnel, or the like is approaching.

7. Yachting. (on a sailboat) a feather, string, or similar device, often attached to the port and starboard shrouds and to the backstay, to indicate the relative direction of the wind.

8. Squash. a narrow piece of metal across the front wall of a court, parallel to and extending 17 inches (43.2 centimeters) above the base: a ball striking this is an out.

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adjective

1. that reveals or betrays what is not intended to be known.

   a telltale blush.

2. giving notice or warning of something, as a mechanical device.

telltale British  

/ ˈtɛlˌteɪl /

noun

1. a person who tells tales about others

2. 1. an outward indication of something concealed

   2. ( as modifier )

      a telltale paw mark

3. any of various indicators or recording devices used to monitor a process, machine, etc

4. nautical

   1. another word for dogvane

   2. one of a pair of light vanes mounted on the main shrouds of a sailing boat to indicate the apparent direction of the wind

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Other Word Forms

• telltalely adverb

Etymology

Origin of telltale

First recorded in 1540–50; tell ¹ + tale

Example Sentences

On social media, there was speculation that the Swedes planted a secret camera to capture the telltale angle.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We see telltale signs of a market distorted beyond recognition, one that punishes strategic investment, one that punishes diversification,” Vice President JD Vance said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Aside from the telltale rash, measles symptoms can include high fever, cough and red, watery eyes.

From Los Angeles Times

Big picture: If there were big trouble brewing for the economy, a telltale sign would be rising jobless claims.

From MarketWatch

In other words, it has none of the telltale signs that companies have typically relied on as they have scoured the West for heat to turn into electrons.

From The Wall Street Journal