semaphore

Meanings

Noun

an apparatus for visual signaling with lights or mechanically moving arms
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 transmitting 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.
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 events in different processes.

Verb

send signals by or as if by semaphore
convey by semaphore, of information
To signal using, or as if using, a semaphore, with the implication that it is done nonverbally.

Origin / Etymology

The noun is borrowed from French sémaphore, from Ancient Greek σῆμα (sêma, “mark, sign, token”) + French -phore (from Ancient Greek -φόρος (-phóros, suffix indicating a bearer or carrier)). By surface analysis, sema- + -phore.
The verb is derived from the noun.

Scrabble Score: 16

semaphore is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
semaphore is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
semaphore is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 17

semaphore is a valid Words With Friends word