Definition

1. Noun:
   • A traffic signal using colored lights to control the flow of vehicles at an intersection. It is a device that uses red, yellow (amber), and green lights to instruct drivers when to stop, prepare to stop, and go.
   • A red warning light on the rear of a vehicle. This light illuminates when the vehicle's brakes are applied, signaling to following traffic that the vehicle is slowing down or stopping.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Traffic Signal):
  • Wait for the stoplight to turn green before you proceed.
  • The intersection is controlled by a stoplight.
• Noun (Vehicle Light):
  • One of the car's stoplights is broken, so it's not safe to drive at night.
  • I saw his stoplight flash, so I began to brake as well.

Advanced Usage

• "To run a stoplight": To drive through an intersection when the traffic signal is red.
  • He got a ticket for running a stoplight.

Variants and Related Words

• Traffic light (noun): A more common synonym for the first meaning (the intersection signal).
• Brake light (noun): A more precise and common synonym for the second meaning (the red light on a vehicle).
• Traffic signal (noun): A formal term for the device that controls traffic flow.

Synonyms

• For the traffic signal: Traffic light, traffic signal, signal.
• For the vehicle light: Brake light, tail light (though a tail light is always on, while a stoplight/brake light only illuminates when braking).

Related Phrases

• Red light: Specifically refers to the red signal on a traffic light, or can informally refer to the traffic light itself.
  • The car stopped at the red light.
• Green light: The signal to proceed; also used metaphorically to mean permission.
  • We got the green light to start the project.

Noun

1. a visual signal to control the flow of traffic at intersections
2. a red light on the rear of a motor vehicle that signals when the brakes are applied to slow or stop