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semaphore

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semaphore

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++
Related topics: Communications
sem·a·phore /ˈseməfɔː $ -fɔːr/ noun [uncountable]  TCa system of sending messages using two flags, which you hold in different positions to represent letters and numbers 旗语
Examples from the Corpus
semaphoreLook at the alphabet semaphore chart to find out where to place your flags.She was very good at semaphore and had won the Signaller Badge.His hands windmill in a frenetic semaphore and his body shifts in ceaseless motion, with a life of its own.As Robert watched, Aziz raised his mop and started a kind of semaphore in the direction of the Windmill.However, the White House has been encouraged by the political semaphore coming from Capitol Hill.She does it in a way that suggests intimacy, a shared semaphore.There is no need to learn all the semaphore signs before beginning to signal.She had shown Cheryl little ways that would help her to remember the semaphore letters and she practised signalling with her.
Origin semaphore (1800-1900) Greek sema sign + -phoros carrying
sem·a·phore nounChineseSyllable
of system using sending a messages two Corpus flags,


semaphore
semaphore /ˈseməfɔː $ -fɔːr/ noun [uncountable]
 Date: 1800-1900
 Language: Greek
 Origin: sema 'sign' + -phoros 'carrying'
a system of sending messages using two flags, which you hold in different positions to represent letters and numbers


sema·phoreBrE /ˈseməfɔː(r)/ 🔊NAmE /ˈseməfɔːr/ 🔊 noun [uncountable] a system for sending signals in which you hold your arms or two flags in particular positions to represent different letters of the alphabet 信号标;旗语
sema·phoreBrE /ˈseməfɔː(r)/ 🔊NAmE /ˈseməfɔːr/ 🔊 verbpresent simple - I / you / we / they semaphore BrE /ˈseməfɔː(r)/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈseməfɔːr/ 🔊present simple - he / she / it semaphores BrE /ˈseməfɔːz/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈseməfɔːrz/ 🔊past simple semaphored BrE /ˈseməfɔːd/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈseməfɔːrd/ 🔊past participle semaphored BrE /ˈseməfɔːd/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈseməfɔːrd/ 🔊 -ing form semaphoring BrE /ˈseməfɔːrɪŋ/ 🔊 NAmE /ˈseməfɔːrɪŋ/ 🔊 [intransitive, transitive] ~ (sth) | ~ that… to send a message to sb by semaphore or a similar system of signals 打旗语;(用其他类似的信号系统)发信号