stoplight

stoplight — noun

1. a roadside signal at a junction that shows three colors — red for stop, yellow f

1.名詞A2
釋義

a roadside signal at a junction that shows three colors — red for stop, yellow for caution, and green for go — telling drivers when they must stop and when they may move forward.

例句

Ravindra slowed down when he saw the stoplight ahead change from green to yellow.

demonstrates color transition sequence

A red stoplight means you must come to a complete stop before the white line.

red + stoplight for the stop instruction

同義詞
  • traffic light

    the more common international term, used in both US and UK English

  • traffic signal

    the formal or official term, often used by transportation authorities

  • signal light

    less common; used mainly in technical or engineering contexts

文法句型

the + stoplight + verb (changes / turns / shows)

at a / the stoplight

用法筆記

Stoplight for a traffic signal is the standard term in American English. In British English, the equivalent word is traffic light.

常見錯誤

❌I ran a red stoplight because I was in a hurry.
✅I went through a red light because I was in a hurry.
💡'Ran a red light' is a fixed expression; do not insert 'stop' into it.
❌The stoplight was broken so all directions stayed red.
✅The traffic signal was broken so all directions showed red.
💡In formal or official contexts, traffic signal or traffic light is preferred.

2. a red lamp on the back of a vehicle that turns on when the driver uses the brake

2.名詞B1
釋義

a red lamp on the back of a vehicle that turns on when the driver uses the brakes, to warn other road users that it is slowing or stopping.

例句

Quinn noticed that the left stoplight on his car was not working after the crash.

possessive + left stoplight indicating location

When Hamza braked suddenly, the red stoplights on the back of his truck lit up.

stoplights + verb phrase lit up

同義詞
  • brake light

    the standard international term, more common in technical and UK English contexts

  • brake lamp

    formal term, used in repair manuals and vehicle specifications

文法句型

possessive + stoplight + verb (comes on / lights up / is broken)

a / the + stoplight + on / at the rear of + vehicle

用法筆記

In this sense, stoplight is primarily an American term. The more common and internationally understood word is brake light. Tail light is different — it stays on whenever the headlights are on and does not signal braking.

常見錯誤

❌The stoplight on my car stays on all night.
✅The tail light on my car stays on all night.
💡A stoplight (brake light) only comes on when you press the brake pedal. The light that stays on is the tail light.
❌I need to replace a stoplight bulb — it stays dark even when I press the brake.
✅I need to replace a brake light bulb
💡it stays dark even when I press the brake.' — Brake light is the more precise term for the replacement part.