semaphore

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: seashore, metaphore, semaphoric, spermaphore, semaphored, semaphores

Antonyms: seashore, metaphore, semaphoric, spermaphore, semaphored, semaphores

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

Any [[equipment]] [[used]] for [[visual]] [[signalling]] by means of [[flags]], [[lights]], or [[mechanically]] [[moving]] [[arms]], which are used to [[represent]] [[letters]] of the [[alphabet]], or [[words]].
A visual [[system]] for [[transmit]]ting [[information]] using the above equipment; especially, by means of [[two]] flags held [[one]] in each [[hand]], using an [[alphabetic]] and [[numeric]] [[code]] [[based]] on the [[position]] of the [[signaller]]'s arms; [[flag semaphore]].
{{lb|en|programming}} A [[bit]], [[token]], [[fragment]] of code, or some other [[mechanism]] which is used to [[restrict]] [[access]] to a [[shared]] [[function]] or [[device]] to a [[single]] [[process]] at a [[time]], or to [[synchronize]] and [[coordinate]] [[event]]s in [[different]] processes.

{{lb|en|ambitransitive|figurative}} To [[signal]] using, or as if using, a semaphore, with the [[implication]] that it is done [[nonverbally]].

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.