用來判讀狀況的指標
把那根針換成一個數字或一件事實：失業率、考試成績、心跳次數，本身都不是事情的全貌，但它們指向背後的狀況，讓人讀得出好壞強弱。這是同一個「指給你看」的角色搬到抽象的地方。
sign of a condition · noun · B2
A fact, number, or sign that shows you what is happening, or how strong, healthy, or good something is.
指標
核心畫面
Picture a needle on a dial swinging round to a number: it does not do the work of the machine, it just points, so that a person standing there can read what is going on inside. An indicator is whatever plays that role — the thing that points at the state of something.
可以想成：儀表板上一根指針晃過去停在某個刻度上。它自己不做事，只負責「指」，讓站在旁邊的人一眼就讀出裡面的狀況。in…更多收起
可以想成：儀表板上一根指針晃過去停在某個刻度上。它自己不做事，只負責「指」，讓站在旁邊的人一眼就讀出裡面的狀況。indicator 就是扮演這個角色的東西——它把看不見的狀態指出來給你看。從機器上的針，到車尾閃的燈，再到報告裡的一串數字，都是同一件事的不同版本。From the picture
Also in this word
gauge pointer · noun · B1
A pointer on a machine that shows temperature, pressure, speed, or another reading.
指針
turn signal · noun · A2
The flashing lamp a driver uses to tell other people the car is turning left or right.
方向燈
原始詞典資料9 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
indicatornoun/ˈɪn.dɪˌkeɪ.tə(ɹ)/
- 1
A pointer or index that indicates something.
- The visual indicators are a decided improvement, and have reduced the telephoning by the staff in the signalbox.
- These old indicators [at Earl's Court station] show the destination of the next train by the appearance of an illuminated arrow next to the station name. The arrow may indicate that a train is going to Wimbledon, but it gives no clue as to when. Now, however, the indicators are supplemented by dot matrix panels that not only say where but also when. Why aren't the old ones removed? Because they, like the whole station, are Grade II listed.
- 2
A meter or gauge.
- 3
The needle or dial on such a meter.
- 4
chemistrynatural-sciencesphysical-sciencesAny of many substances, such as litmus, used to indicate the concentration of a substance, or the degree of a reaction.
- 5
biologyecologynatural-sciencesA plant or animal whose presence is indicative of some specific environment.
- 6
economicssciencesA measure, such as unemployment rate, which can be used to predict economic trends.
- 7
automotivetransportvehiclesA turn signal; each of the flashing lights on each side of a vehicle which indicate a turn is being made to left or right, or a lane change etc.
- 8
A bird, the honeyguide.
另外 1 個記錄的用法
- 9
A codeword that marks the use of a specific cryptic device.
- 'Wild' is an anagram indicator showing that the letters of 'danger' have to be rearranged.
- We surrounded the strike, Snowy (5) Snowy is the definition in this clue. Ignore the punctuation and capital letter of Snowy! Surrounded is the container indicator.
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。