semaphore
sem·a·phore
(sĕm′ə-fôr′)n.
1. A visual signaling apparatus with flags, lights, or mechanically moving arms, as one used on a railroad.
2. A visual system for sending information by means of two flags that are held one in each hand, using an alphabetic code based on the position of the signaler's arms.
tr. & intr.v. sem·a·phored, sem·a·phor·ing, sem·a·phores
To send (a message) or to signal by semaphore.
[Greek sēma, sign + -phore.]
sem′a·phor′ic adj.
sem′a·phor′i·cal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
semaphore
(ˈsɛməˌfɔː)n
1. (Telecommunications) an apparatus for conveying information by means of visual signals, as with movable arms or railway signals, flags, etc
2. (Telecommunications) 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
vb
(Telecommunications) to signal (information) by means of semaphore
[C19: via French, from Greek sēma a signal + -phore]
semaphoric, ˌsemaˈphorical adj
ˌsemaˈphorically adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
sem•a•phore
(ˈsɛm əˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr)n., v. -phored, -phor•ing. n.
1. an apparatus for conveying information by means of visual signals, as a light whose position may be changed.
2. a system of signaling, esp. one by which a special flag is held in each hand and various positions of the arms indicate specific letters, numbers, etc.
v.t., v.i.3. to signal by semaphore or by some system of flags.
[1810–20; < Greek sêma sign + -phore]
sem`a•phor′ic (-ˈfɔr ɪk, -ˈfɒr-) sem`a•phor′i•cal, adj.
sem`a•phor′i•cal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
semaphore
any of various types of signaling systems using flags, mechanical arms, etc. — semaphorist, n. — semaphoric, semaphorical, adj.
See also: Flags-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
semaphore
Past participle: semaphored
Gerund: semaphoring
| Imperative |
|---|
| semaphore |
| semaphore |
| Present |
|---|
| I semaphore |
| you semaphore |
| he/she/it semaphores |
| we semaphore |
| you semaphore |
| they semaphore |
| Preterite |
|---|
| I semaphored |
| you semaphored |
| he/she/it semaphored |
| we semaphored |
| you semaphored |
| they semaphored |
| Present Continuous |
|---|
| I am semaphoring |
| you are semaphoring |
| he/she/it is semaphoring |
| we are semaphoring |
| you are semaphoring |
| they are semaphoring |
| Present Perfect |
|---|
| I have semaphored |
| you have semaphored |
| he/she/it has semaphored |
| we have semaphored |
| you have semaphored |
| they have semaphored |
| Past Continuous |
|---|
| I was semaphoring |
| you were semaphoring |
| he/she/it was semaphoring |
| we were semaphoring |
| you were semaphoring |
| they were semaphoring |
| Past Perfect |
|---|
| I had semaphored |
| you had semaphored |
| he/she/it had semaphored |
| we had semaphored |
| you had semaphored |
| they had semaphored |
| Future |
|---|
| I will semaphore |
| you will semaphore |
| he/she/it will semaphore |
| we will semaphore |
| you will semaphore |
| they will semaphore |
| Future Perfect |
|---|
| I will have semaphored |
| you will have semaphored |
| he/she/it will have semaphored |
| we will have semaphored |
| you will have semaphored |
| they will have semaphored |
| Future Continuous |
|---|
| I will be semaphoring |
| you will be semaphoring |
| he/she/it will be semaphoring |
| we will be semaphoring |
| you will be semaphoring |
| they will be semaphoring |
| Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I have been semaphoring |
| you have been semaphoring |
| he/she/it has been semaphoring |
| we have been semaphoring |
| you have been semaphoring |
| they have been semaphoring |
| Future Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I will have been semaphoring |
| you will have been semaphoring |
| he/she/it will have been semaphoring |
| we will have been semaphoring |
| you will have been semaphoring |
| they will have been semaphoring |
| Past Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I had been semaphoring |
| you had been semaphoring |
| he/she/it had been semaphoring |
| we had been semaphoring |
| you had been semaphoring |
| they had been semaphoring |
| Conditional |
|---|
| I would semaphore |
| you would semaphore |
| he/she/it would semaphore |
| we would semaphore |
| you would semaphore |
| they would semaphore |
| Past Conditional |
|---|
| I would have semaphored |
| you would have semaphored |
| he/she/it would have semaphored |
| we would have semaphored |
| you would have semaphored |
| they would have semaphored |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
semaphore
Signalling by means of two flags or mechanical arms, held in various positions to represent letters.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited