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View synonyms for red light

red light

1

noun

  1. a red lamp, used as a traffic signal to mean “stop.”
  2. an order or directive to halt an action, project, etc.:

    There's a red light on all unnecessary expenses.

  3. a children's running game in which players must stop when “Red light!” is called.
  4. a signal of danger; warning.


red-light

2

[ red-lahyt ]

verb (used with object)

, red-light·ed, red-light·ing.
  1. Informal. to stop or deter by means of or as if with a red light.

red light

noun

  1. a signal to stop, esp a red traffic signal in a system of traffic lights
  2. a danger signal
  3. an instruction to stop or discontinue
    1. a red lamp in a window of or outside a house indicating that it is a brothel
    2. ( as modifier )

      a red-light district

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of red light1

First recorded in 1840–50

Origin of red light2

First recorded in 1895–1900
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Example Sentences

A car parked at a red light honked its horn in rhythm with the chant as the crowd passed in front of it.

"I'm sorry, we're going to have to run this red light," the driver said, according to Simonetti.

In November 2012, police officers in Racine County, Wisconsin, pulled Matson over for running a flashing red light.

And also probably because this fool stopped at a red light in the middle of an intersection.

A block away, a car without a driver speeds through a red light and crashes into oncoming traffic.

In a few minutes, however, a thin thread of red light was seen to curve upwards into the black sky.

From the wall beyond him a red light was flashing; a crystal flamed forth with the intense glare of a thousand fires.

The electric light darted down and converted the contents into a liquid flood of red light.

He could see a masthead light, her red light (with glasses), and a "glare of white lights on her afterdeck."

An eye of red light suddenly opened in the silver stream shows three men standing by a snowy tent.

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