turn signal
7
2.5
- noun
- /tɜrn ˈsɪɡnəl/
- US
:
intermitente
- At the traffic light, she activated her turn signal to turn left.
- a left turn signal
- a right turn signal
- put on the turn signal
We don't know what any of this stuff is for, but we do have lights and turn signals that we have to hook up.
- We don't know what any of this stuff is for, but we do have lights and turn signals that we have to hook up.
- The first half is people who don't use their turn signals and their car.
- You didn't put the what do you turn signal you, you were drifting the car, then you went and passed a red light and you were speeding and you were about to race the guy next to you.
Examples
-
Do you use the turn signals all the time like I do?
Blog text (26) -
Had to use the turn signal.
Fiction book (1992) -
Okay, why are you using the turn signal?
-
Sir, it was a turn signal.
-
I decided to leave the stock turn signals with the integrated light.
Blog text (10) -
My mother flicked on the turn signal.
Fiction book (1993) -
Most Southerners do not use turn signals, and they ignore those who do.
Blog text (10) -
Then you'll put your turn signal on and very slowly and carefully merge into traffic.
-
Newport Road seemed wider than usual when I turned on the left-turn signal at the four-way intersection.
Fiction book (2000) -
The wipers swished, the radio blared, the turn signal blinked.
Fiction book (2000)
Synonyms
11
3.2
A light on a car that flashes to show which way it will turn
1
2.3
A blinking light on a car that shows which way it will turn
A small blinking light on a car that shows which way it is about to turn
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a blinking light indicating direction' is directly and transparently built from 'turn' (an act of turning) combined with 'signal' (an indication). This noun+noun composition mirrors common cross-linguistic patterns (e.g. Spanish 'señal de giro') so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Turn signal comes from the simple idea of a turn and a signal. Long ago drivers used hand signals or a small arm on the car to show which way they would go, and later a blinking light did the same job, so today a turn signal is the light that tells other drivers your direction.