Il semaforo
Example: Il semaforo è rosso, quindi dobbiamo fermarci.
Definition
"Il semaforo" is a traffic light used to control the flow of vehicles and pedestrians at intersections by signaling when to stop, go, or proceed with caution using colored lights, typically red, yellow, and green.
Etymology
The word "il semaforo" comes from the Greek words 'sēma,' meaning sign, and 'phoros,' meaning bearer or carrier. Together they form 'semaforos,' which was adapted into Italian as "semaforo," literally meaning 'sign-bearer,' reflecting its function as a signaling device. Did you know? The concept was inspired by early optical telegraphs.
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"Il semaforo" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 103 commonly used words.
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the traffic light