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Signifier vs Signal - What's the difference?

signifier | signal |

As nouns the difference between signifier and signal

is that signifier is the sound of spoken word or string of letters on a page that a person recognizes as a sign while signal is a sign made to give notice of some occurrence, command, or danger, or to indicate the start of a concerted action.

As a verb signal is

to indicate.

As an adjective signal is

standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement.

signifier

English

(Intension)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (linguistics) The sound of spoken word or string of letters on a page that a person recognizes as a sign.
  • signal

    English

    (wikipedia signal)

    Alternative forms

    * signall

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A sign made to give notice of some occurrence, command, or danger, or to indicate the start of a concerted action.
  • * Milton
  • All obeyed / The wonted signal and superior voice / Of this great potentate.
  • An on-off light, semaphore, or other device used to give an indication to another person.
  • (of a radio, TV, telephone, internet, etc) An electrical or electromagnetic action, normally a voltage that is a function of time that conveys the information of the radio or TV program or of communication with another party.
  • My mobile phone can't get a signal in the railway station.
  • A token; an indication; a foreshadowing; a sign.
  • * Shakespeare
  • The weary sun / Gives signal of a goodly day to-morrow.
  • * De Foe
  • There was not the least signal of the calamity to be seen.
  • Useful information, as opposed to noise.
  • (computing, Unix) A simple interprocess communication used to notify a process or thread of an occurrence.
  • Antonyms

    * (useful information) noise

    Derived terms

    * signal box * signalman * signalwoman * smoke signal

    See also

    * tocsin

    Verb

  • To indicate.
  • Adjective

    (-)
  • Standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement.
  • a signal''' exploit; a '''signal''' service; a '''signal act of benevolence
  • * Milton
  • As signal now in low, dejected state / As erst in highest, behold him where he lies.

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----