indicate

present singular third person indicates · participle present indicating · participle past indicated · past indicated · first person past singular indicated · archaic present second person singular indicatest · past second person singular indicated · archaic past second person singular indicatedst · present singular third person indicates · archaic present singular third person indicateth · past singular third person indicated · past plural indicated · past subjunctive indicated · participle present indicating · participle past indicated

1. sometimestransitiveTo point out; to discover; to direct to a knowledge of; to show; to make known.

   The guard blew his whistle to indicate imminent departure.

   4 more examples

   With just the turn of a shoulder she indicated the water front, where, at the end of the dock on which they stood, lay the good ship, Mount Vernon, river packet, the black smoke already pouring from her stacks.

   1910, Emerson Hough, “A Lady in Company”, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

   The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen.[…]The second note, the high alarum, not so familiar and always important since it indicates the paramount sin in Man's private calendar, took most of them by surprise although they had been well prepared.

   1963, Margery Allingham, “Eye Witness”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 249

   The willingness of the principals to forgo further argument as the triviality which it in fact is and to petition directly the chambers of the historical absolute clearly indicates of how little moment are the opinions and of what great moment the divergences thereof.

   1985, Cormac McCarthy, chapter XVII, in Blood Meridian […] , →OCLC

   Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.

   2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3

   Synonyms: betoken, index, speak of, bespeak

2. transitivemedicineTo show or manifest by symptoms.

   Near-synonym: suggest

   1 more example

   Marked weakness unresponsive to dietary change and exercise may indicate an underlying neurologic or metabolic problem.

   Synonyms: suggest

3. transitivemedicineTo point to as the proper remedies.

   Near-synonym: warrant

   3 more examples

   This type of arrhythmia indicates the use of a beta-blocker.

   Amiodarone is not indicated in this type of arrhythmia.

   It was strange to buy things I used to consider luxuries but were now medically indicated, like air conditioning and well-made shoes.

   1990 February 4, Margy Dowzer, Mary Frances Platt, Aviva Shmuckler, “Disability And Accessibility Cost Money!”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 29, page 13

   Synonyms: warrant

4. transitiveTo signal in a vehicle the desire to turn right or left.
5. transitiveTo investigate the condition or power of, as of steam engine, by means of an indicator.

   I found it fully as easy to indicate an engine at a speed of 320 to 340 revolutions as at 80.

   1905, Power, volume 25, page 448

   2 more examples

   To a person who is familiar with the use of an indicator, whether it be of one make or another, it is needless to give instructions as to how an engine should be indicated,[…].

   1903, “How to indicate an engine”, in The Star Improved Steam Engine Indicator, page 64

   An indicator will give the working of these valves at all times and soon return its cost in higher engine efficiency. The day has passed when it was only the expert who could indicate an engine or afford to own an indicator.

   1905, Central Station, volume 5, page 76