Words / B1

TRAF-ikl-yt/ˈtræfɪk laɪt/

A traffic light (id: traffic-light) is a set of red, amber, and green lights that control road traffic. Amber is the UK middle light (US yellow). School run: do not drop in the zigzag lines while you wait for green.

Meaning

A set of red, amber, and green lights that control road traffic.

Examples

• “The traffic light on the school run is timed; do not drop in the zigzag lines.”
• “Traffic-light marking on a report is RAG (red/amber/green), which is the metaphor sense.”

Good to know

a traffic light / traffic lights. UK middle: amber. Highway Code / school run. Countable sets. Mix-up: a lamp-post is not a signal.

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