An indicator is a measurement or value which gives you an idea of what something is like.
...vital economic indicators, such as inflation, growth and the trade gap.
The number of wells is a fair indicator of the demand for water.
Synonyms: sign, mark, measure, guide More Synonyms of indicator
2. countable noun
A car's indicators are the flashing lights that tell you when it is going to turn left or right.
[mainly British]regional note: in AM, usually use turn signals
indicator in British English
(ˈɪndɪˌkeɪtə)
noun
1.
something that provides an indication, esp of trends
economic indicator
2.
a device to attract attention, such as the pointer of a gauge or a warning lamp
3.
an instrument that displays certain operating conditions in a machine, such as a gauge showing temperature, speed, pressure, etc
4.
a.
a device that records or registers something, such as the movements of a lift, or that shows information, such as arrival and departure times of trains
b.
(as modifier)
indicator light
5. Also called: blinker
a device for indicating that a motor vehicle is about to turn left or right, esp two pairs of lights that flash when operated or a pair of trafficators
6. Also called: dial gauge
a delicate measuring instrument used to determine small differences in the height of mechanical components. It consists of a spring-loaded plunger that operates a pointer moving over a circular scale
7. chemistry
a.
a substance used in titrations to indicate the completion of a chemical reaction, usually by a change of colour
b.
a substance, such as litmus, that indicates the presence of an acid or alkali
8. Also called: indicator species ecology
a.
a plant or animal species that thrives only under particular environmental conditions and therefore indicates these conditionswhere it is found
b.
a species of plant or animal whose well-being confirms the well-being of other species in the area
indicator in American English
(ˈɪndɪˌkeɪtər)
noun
1.
a person or thing that indicates
; specif.,
a.
any device, as a gauge, dial, register, or pointer, that measures or records and visibly indicates
b.
an apparatus that diagrams the varying fluid pressure of an engine in operation
2.
any of various substances used to indicate the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, the beginning or end of a chemical reaction, the presence of certain substances, etc., by changesin color
3.
a statistic, as the unemployment rate, used to measure economic or social conditions
4. Ecology
a species of plant or animal, or a community, whose occurrence serves as evidence that certain environmental conditions exist
indicator in Automotive Engineering
(ɪndɪkeɪtər)
Word forms: (regular plural) indicators
noun
(Automotive engineering: Design and performance)
An indicator is an instrument that shows engine cylinder pressure during a working cycle.
Adjust the connections until the cylinder pressure indicator reading does not fall within 1 minute after closing the cylinder valve.
The indicator keeps the graphical record of pressure inside the cylinder during the piston stroke.
The engine indicator consists of a spring-loaded piston on which the spring is compressed in proportionto the cylinder pressure acting on it.
indicator diagram
US UK EnglishIn British English, indicators are the flashing lights that tell you that a vehicleis going to turn left or right. In American English, these are called turn signals.
COBUILD Collocations
indicator
key indicator
reliable indicator
Examples of 'indicator' in a sentence
indicator
GDP data for the last quarter will be released this month but early indicators suggest that growth has been robust.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It also proposes using signals, such as from the indicator lights, to alert others that a door is about to open.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Putting all the controls for the lights and indicators and wipers on the steering wheel is silly.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Or give a single flash of the indicators?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The figures are a key indicator of consumer inflation.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The website said that the number of inquiries tended to be an indicator of housing demand.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Your stance on them is a telling indicator of your world view.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This makes what we wear one of the most reliable indicators of world change.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The search goes on for a reliable alternative economic indicator.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Surely this is a far more telling indicator of true middle age?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The changes we are seeing are probably a good indicator of the changing climactic conditions there.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The positive outlook for sterling is a result of improved economic indicators.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is also advising car owners to make sure that they lock their cars by waiting to see the indicators flash.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The lead indicators have already turned.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Usually, a recovery in activity is a lead indicator of economic growth.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
That's usually a reliable indicator of stronger growth.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Another day, another baleful indicator of looming inflation.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Other indicators suggest growth will continue at around 0.5 per cent during the next two quarters.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
My husband stopped the car, left indicator flashing.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The way they ran as hard in the last minute as they did the first was a telling indicator of the desire at the club.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The most reliable indicator, it turns out, is not live sightings at all but road casualties.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
A US economic recovery is under way and indicators of consumer demand are particularly encouraging.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The number one indicator that a first-time guest will be here a year from now is if we get them serving somewhere, so first contact is critical.
Christianity Today (2000)
A number of technical indicators suggest that equities are now extremely cheap - the cheapest since the dotcom bubble burst, by some measures.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Word lists with
indicator
America
In other languages
indicator
British English: indicator /ˈɪndɪˌkeɪtə/ NOUN
An indicator is a measurement or value which gives you an idea of what something is like.
The phone has a low battery indicator.
American English: indicator
Arabic: مُؤَشِّرٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: indicador
Chinese: 指示器
Croatian: pokazatelj
Czech: ukazatel
Danish: indikator
Dutch: indicator
European Spanish: indicador
Finnish: mittari
French: indicateur
German: Indikator
Greek: ένδειξη
Italian: indicatore
Japanese: 指標
Korean: 표시기
Norwegian: indikator
Polish: wskaźnik
European Portuguese: indicador
Romanian: indicator
Russian: указатель
Latin American Spanish: indicador señalador
Swedish: indikator
Thai: ตัวบ่งชี้
Turkish: gösterge
Ukrainian: індикатор
Vietnamese: dấu hiệu
All related terms of 'indicator'
key indicator
An indicator is a measurement or value which gives you an idea of what something is like.
indicator board
a device that shows information, such as the arrival and departure times of trains or planes
indicator light
a device for indicating that a motor vehicle is about to turn left or right; blinker
speed indicator
an instrument for counting the number of revolutions of a gasoline engine
airspeed indicator
a dial that indicates the airspeed at which an aircraft is travelling
economic indicator
a statistical measure representing an economic variable
indicator diagram
a graphical or other representation of the cyclic variations of pressure and volume within the cylinder of a reciprocating engine obtained by using an indicator
indicator species
a species of plant or animal whose well-being confirms the well-being of other species in the area
lagging indicator
A lagging indicator is an economic indicator that changes following a change in the economy , such as unemployment .
leading indicator
A leading indicator is an economic indicator that changes before a change in the economy , and that can be used to predict future economic or financial activity.
mileage indicator
a device on a vehicle such as a car , plane , etc which indicates the number of miles travelled
reliable indicator
An indicator is a measurement or value which gives you an idea of what something is like.
coincident indicator
an economic indicator , as gross national product, that typically fluctuates in correlation with the total economy
direction indicator
a flashing light on a motor vehicle that indicates that the driver intends to turn or is turning to the left or right
performance indicator
a quantitative or qualitative measurement, or any other criterion , by which the performance, efficiency , achievement , etc of a person or organization can be assessed , often by comparison with an agreed standard or target
moving target indicator
a Doppler-radar presentation that indicates moving targets only, stationary objects reflecting signals that the system rejects
plan position indicator
a circular radarscope on which signals are shown at radial distances from the center , which represents the location of the transmitter
turn-and-bank indicator
an airplane instrument that coordinates the rate of turn with the degree of bank to help the pilot avoid a slip or skid
Chinese translation of 'indicator'
indicator
(ˈɪndɪkeɪtəʳ)
n(c)
(Brit)[on car]指示器 (zhǐshìqì) (个(個), gè)
美 = turn signal
(= measurement) 指标(標) (zhǐbiāo)
an indicator of health/economic activity健康/经(經)济(濟)活动(動)指标(標) (jiànkāng/jīngjì huódòng zhǐbiāo)
(noun)
Definition
something that acts as a sign or indication
The number of wells is a fair indicator of the demand for water.
Synonyms
sign
Equations are generally written with a two-bar equals sign.
mark
Shopkeepers closed their shutters as a mark of respect.
measure
The local elections were seen as a measure of the government's success.
guide
Our only guide was the stars overhead.
display
index
Weeds are an index to the character of the soil.
signal
The event was seen as a signal of support.
symbol
The artist uses the oak tree as a symbol of strength.
meter
gauge
The index is the government's chief gauge of future economic activity.
marker
benchmark
The truck industry is a benchmark for the economy.
pointer
Sunday's elections should be a pointer to the public mood.
signpost
barometer
Additional synonyms
in the sense of benchmark
Definition
a criterion by which to measure something
The truck industry is a benchmark for the economy.
Synonyms
reference point,
gauge,
yardstick,
measure,
level,
example,
standard,
model,
reference,
par,
criterion,
norm,
touchstone
in the sense of gauge
Definition
a standard for estimating people's feelings or reactions
The index is the government's chief gauge of future economic activity.
Synonyms
indicator,
test,
rule,
standard,
model,
measure,
guide,
basis,
pattern,
index,
sample,
par,
guideline,
criterion,
meter,
yardstick,
touchstone,
exemplar
in the sense of guide
Definition
something that can be used to gauge something or to help in planning one's actions