traffic light
41
1.0
- noun
- /ˈtræfɪk laɪt/
- Pedestrians waited for the traffic light to change before crossing the road.
- a red traffic light
- run a red traffic light
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Watch on YouTubeBut our law in Singapore, those of you who know Singapore, you only cross at the designated traffic lights.
- But our law in Singapore, those of you who know Singapore, you only cross at the designated traffic lights.
- Even if the traffic light is red, I will cross because I think the traffic light is like a help but not a replacement for your brain, right?
- But the, the traffic light detection problem luckily is with with cameras is is pretty solved at this point.
- So I make this point about going through the traffic lights because you can have these lapses of attention, and these lapses of attention are caused by micro sleeps.
- The noise in the traffic lights make me dizzy.
- People are living their lives by traffic lights in this road.
Examples
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But we got stuck at a traffic light.
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On Tryon Street, she was stopped at a traffic light near Jake's, a favorite spot for breakfast.
Fiction book (1997) -
So that was traffic light two and three turning green.
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All traffic lights in the district go red.
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Picture New York City in morning rush hour, and every traffic light is green.
Fiction book (1995) -
In Sweden all the cars Stop at the traffic light.
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There was only one traffic light on Broadway.
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I was waiting for the traffic light to change when I heard Sid.
Fiction book (1995) -
Buddy was trying so hard to keep his balance that he didn't see the traffic light change.
Fiction book (2002) -
Automobile drivers risk speeding tickets and express great dismay when traffic lights turn red at the last moment.
Academic text (1992)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A device like a lamp or bulb that produces light
19
1.6
A set of red, yellow and green lights that control traffic at intersections
9
1.4
A system of colored lights where roads meet that tells cars and people when to go
How Noticeable
Surface Forms
Morphology
The dashboard sense is directly derived from the literal device 'traffic light' (a light that controls traffic) and the widely shared color-coding convention (green/yellow/red = go/warn/stop). A B1 learner who knows 'traffic' and 'light' can readily infer the metaphorical use as a color-coded indicator by analogy to the road signal, so the expression is compositionally transparent.
Etymology
The noun traffic light comes from a simple street picture: a lamp with three colored lights that tells drivers and people when to 'stop', 'go', or 'slow down'. That's why the phrase means the device at crossings that controls movement.