indicator

indicator — noun

1. something you can observe or measure that tells you about the present state of t

1.名詞B2
釋義

something you can observe or measure that tells you about the present state of things or what may happen soon.

例句

Chidi's frequent coughing was the first indicator that he was coming down with a cold.

indicator + that-clause for showing evidence

Falling test scores across the school are often an indicator of problems in the classroom.

同義詞
  • sign

    more general, less formal; can be any visible clue

  • signal

    suggests a deliberate or direct warning about something

  • symptom

    used specifically for medical or problem-related conditions; something bad

文法句型

indicator + of + noun phrase

indicator + that-clause

用法筆記

Subject is often a measurable or observable fact (test scores, prices, temperature). The preposition 'of' connects the indicator to the situation it reveals.

常見錯誤

❌The dark clouds are a good indication that rain is coming.
✅The dark clouds are a good indicator that rain is coming.
💡'indication' refers to the act of showing; 'indicator' is the thing that shows it.

2. a flashing light on a car or motorcycle that the driver uses to tell other road

2.名詞A2
釋義

a flashing light on a car or motorcycle that the driver uses to tell other road users they plan to go left or right.

例句

Mateo forgot to use his indicator before turning left at the junction.

collocation: use your indicator

The car in front had a broken indicator on the passenger side.

broken indicator — describing a faulty part

同義詞
  • turn signal

    standard American term

  • blinker

    informal term used in both American and British English

文法句型

possessive + indicator

use + indicator

用法筆記

Standard term in British English. In American English, 'turn signal' or 'blinker' is more common. 'Blinker' is informal in both varieties.

常見錯誤

❌I forgot to turn on my direction light.
✅I forgot to use my indicator.
💡'direction light' is not a standard term; 'indicator' (UK) or 'turn signal' (US) is correct.

3. a part of a machine or control panel that displays a reading such as speed, temp

3.名詞B1
釋義

a part of a machine or control panel that displays a reading such as speed, temperature, or the amount of fuel remaining.

例句

The speed indicator showed we were driving at one hundred and ten kilometres per hour.

collocation: speed / fuel / temperature indicator

Niran checked the fuel indicator before setting off on the long journey.

同義詞
  • gauge

    more specific; often refers to a round dial with a needle

  • dial

    focuses on the circular face of a measuring device

  • meter

    device that measures and records usage, e.g. electricity or water

文法句型

noun + indicator

indicator + shows/reads

用法筆記

Often combined with a noun naming what is measured (speed indicator, fuel indicator, temperature indicator). The verb 'read' or 'show' is typically used with this sense.

4. in chemistry, a material that shifts colour when mixed with a specific chemical,

4.名詞B2
釋義

in chemistry, a material that shifts colour when mixed with a specific chemical, allowing scientists to tell whether a solution is acidic or basic.

例句

Litmus paper is a common indicator that turns red in acid and blue in alkali.

litmus paper as indicator — acid/base test

A chemist added indicator to the beaker and watched for a colour change.

同義詞
  • litmus

    a specific type of indicator made from lichen; often used as a general term for any test

  • reagent

    broader term for any substance used in a chemical reaction to detect another substance

文法句型

indicator + noun

add + indicator

用法筆記

Domain-specific to chemistry. The most well-known example is litmus paper. Rarely used outside scientific or educational contexts.

5. a piece of statistical information that helps people understand the general cond

5.名詞B2
釋義

a piece of statistical information that helps people understand the general condition of a country's economy or the direction in which it is moving.

例句

The unemployment rate is an important indicator of a country's economic health.

collocation: economic indicator

The government publishes several key economic indicators at the end of each quarter.

key economic indicator + passive (publishes)

同義詞
  • metric

    more general term for any measured value; used in business and data contexts

  • index

    a composite measure combining multiple data points into one number

  • benchmark

    a standard against which performance is measured

文法句型

economic + indicator

indicator + of

用法筆記

Commonly used in the plural ('indicators') when referring to a set of statistics. Typically modified by 'economic', 'key', 'leading', or 'financial'.

常見錯誤

❌The GDP is a good indication of how the economy is doing.
✅GDP is a good indicator of how the economy is doing.
💡'indication' means a vague sign; 'indicator' is the specific measure itself.