traffic light

traffic light (plural traffic lights)

1. A signalling device positioned at a road intersection or pedestrian crossing to indicate when it may be safe to drive, ride or walk, using a universal colour code.
   • 2005, Paul Carter, Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs, Crows Nest: Allen and Unwin, page 65:

     In Sydney you'd better be riding the clutch and completely in sync with the traffic lights so that your car is already moving as they turn green.

   1. (usually in the plural) A road intersection controlled by one or more such devices.

      Turn left at the traffic lights and the hospital is on your right.

2. A colour code using the three signals of a traffic light (green, yellow/amber, and red) as a metaphor.

   The Department of Health recommends that food packaging display the recommended daily intake with a traffic light system, for ease of understanding.

3. (philately) The coloured dots on stamp sheet margins printed with offset litho or photogravure methods, used by the printers to check colour accuracy.

• (signaling device): robot (South Africa), stop light (US), traffic signal (UK dated, US)
• (intersection): lights, signals
• (philately): registration mark