collocations.org

Collocations for signal - noun

1. sign/action/sound that sends a message

ADJ.

clear, unmistakable | agreed, pre-arranged | conflicting, confusing, contradictory, mixed | wrong
Laughing when you should be crying sends out the wrong signals to people.
alarm, danger, distress, warning | hand, non-verbal, semaphore, smoke, verbal, visual

VERB + SIGNAL

arrange
He had arranged a signal for the band to begin.
give (sb), make, send (out)
When I give the signal, run!
interpret (sth as), read, see sth as
The remark was seen as a signal that their government was ready to return to the peace talks.
pick up, respond to
Interviewers quickly learn to pick up non-verbal signals.
act as
The insect''s bright colours act as warning signals to its predators.

SIGNAL + VERB

come from sth
trying to read the signals coming from the patient
indicate sth
the signals that can indicate danger

PREP.

at/on a ~
At a pre-arranged signal, everyone started cheering.
~ for
She made a signal for the car to stop.
~ from/to
Wait for the signal from the leader of your group.

2. set of lights for drivers

ADJ.

railway, traffic

VERB + SIGNAL

operate

SIGNAL + VERB

be (on) red/green
The traffic signals were on red.
fail

SIGNAL + NOUN

box | failure

3. series of radio waves, chemical messages, etc.

ADJ.

faint, weak | strong | high-frequency, low-frequency | acoustic, analogue, audio, chemical, digital, electrical, electronic, light, radar, radio, sonar, sound, television/TV, video, wireless

VERB + SIGNAL

carry, pass
The nerves carry these signals to the brain.
convert (sth into), scramble, unscramble
The signal is scrambled into code before it is sent.
emit, generate, send, transmit | detect, pick up, receive, respond to
This equipment can detect very low frequency signals.

SIGNAL + VERB

travel
A light signal can travel well over 16km before it halves in intensity.
fade

PREP.

~ from
a faint signal from the satellite
~ to

Collocations for signal - verb

1. move your arms to give a signal

ADV.

frantically, wildly
She signalled frantically to us.

PREP.

for
He raised his hand and signalled for the waiter.
to
She signalled to the bus driver to stop.

2. show/mark sth

ADV.

clearly
These changes clearly signal the end of the welfare state as we know it.
effectively | not necessarily
A change of mind in one instance does not necessarily signal a change in overall policy.

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