a signal + noun
signal 作形容词时通常放在名词前，属正式用语，强调某事物格外出众或重要。
Winning the gold medal was a signal achievement for the young athlete.
赢得金牌对这位年轻运动员来说是一项非凡的成就。
显著的；重要的；非凡的
在等级、重要性或成就上高于他人；作为信号的；显著的；[计] 信号
Notably important or outstanding in rank, importance, or achievement.
在等级、重要性或成就上高于他人
Standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement.
The team made a signal contribution to the project.
该团队对项目做出了显著的贡献。
用法提示：signal作为形容词，意为“显著的”，修饰contribution。
Her signal bravery during the crisis earned her a medal.
她在危机中表现出的显著勇气为她赢得了勋章。
用法提示：signal作为形容词，意为“显著的”，修饰bravery。
The company achieved a signal success with its new product.
该公司的新产品取得了巨大的成功。
用法提示：signal作为形容词，意为“巨大的”，修饰success。
signal 作形容词时通常放在名词前，属正式用语，强调某事物格外出众或重要。
Winning the gold medal was a signal achievement for the young athlete.
赢得金牌对这位年轻运动员来说是一项非凡的成就。
介词 for 引出受益或受影响的一方，说明该事物对谁而言意义重大。
The agreement was a signal victory for the small country.
这项协议是这个弱国的一次重大胜利。
signal 可与最高级连用，表示在某一范围内最为突出。
That discovery was the most signal moment of her career.
那项发现是她职业生涯中最非凡的时刻。
grammar · medium
易错句子Her victory in the final was signal.
正确表达Her victory in the final was remarkable.
signal 作形容词时只能用在名词前作定语，如 a signal victory、a signal achievement，不能放在系动词后作表语。汉语的“显著”可以作谓语（她的胜利是显著的），学生受此影响常把 signal 直接跟在 be 动词后面。表语位置要改用 remarkable、outstanding、notable 这类可作表语的形容词，改后句子意思不变。
grammar · medium
易错句子According to the statistical test, there was a signal difference between the two groups.
正确表达According to the statistical test, there was a significant difference between the two groups.
在统计、实验语境中表示“显著（差异、相关）”，英语有固定说法 significant，不能用 signal。signal 作形容词意为“出众的、非凡的”，一般修饰成就、胜利、荣誉等，不表示“达到统计显著水平”。汉语“显著差异”的“显著”容易让学生误写成 signal；改后句子换成 significant，原意和语境都保留。
显著成就
Winning the Nobel Prize was a signal achievement in her career.
获得诺贝尔奖是她职业生涯中的一项显著成就。
殊荣；重大荣誉
It is a signal honor to be invited to speak at the conference.
被邀请在大会上发言是一项殊荣。
显著成功
The campaign was a signal success, exceeding all expectations.
这场活动取得了显著成功，超出了所有人的预期。
重大失败；明显失败
The project was a signal failure due to poor planning.
由于规划不善，这个项目遭遇了重大失败。
卓越贡献；杰出服务
She rendered signal service to the community during the crisis.
在危机期间，她为社区作出了卓越贡献。
无前缀；词根 sign（标记）+ 后缀 -al（形容词后缀，表示“与…有关”）。同根词：sign, signify, significant, signature；同后缀词：personal, natural, musical。
signal achievement 指值得瞩目的杰出成就。
里程碑式的重要事件或成果常可称为 signal。
signal honor 指极高荣誉。
signal recognition 表示突出的表彰或认可。
signal merit 指显著的功劳。
显著的成功；巨大的成就
The campaign was a signal success, exceeding all expectations.
这次活动取得了显著的成功，超出了所有人的预期。
极大的荣誉
Being asked to give the keynote speech was a signal honor.
被邀请发表主题演讲是一种极大的荣誉。
明显的失败；彻底的失败
The plan was a signal failure, and everyone knew it.
这个计划彻底失败了，所有人都知道这一点。
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Dictionary facts from DICTIONARY_API_DEV, ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.