trafficator
/'træfikeitə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A mechanical or electrical signaling device on a vehicle: A
trafficatoris a device, typically a retractable arm or a blinking light, used on a motor vehicle to indicate the driver's intention to turn or change direction.
Usage
- The word is a historical term. It is rarely used in modern everyday English. Today, the common term is turn signal or indicator.
- It functions as a countable noun (e.g., , ).
- It is used to describe a specific part of a vehicle.
Examples
- Noun:
- The vintage car's trafficator popped out from the door pillar to signal a left turn.
- Before modern blinking lights, many cars were equipped with trafficators.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: The term is most commonly encountered when discussing classic or antique automobiles. It refers to the semaphore-style mechanical indicators that were common before the widespread adoption of flashing light signals.
Variants and Related Words
- Turn signal (n): The modern, standard term for a vehicle's directional indicator light.
- Indicator (n): A common synonym for , especially in British English.
- Blinker (n): An informal term for a turn signal.
- Semaphore indicator (n): A more technical term for the mechanical arm-style trafficator.
Synonyms
- Directional signal
- Turn indicator
Related Idioms or Phrases
Noun
- a blinking light on a motor vehicle that indicates the direction in which the vehicle is about to turn