Telltale

/ˈtɛlteɪl/ · noun

Meaning

One who divulges private information with intent to hurt others..

Definitions by Sense

1. One who divulges private information with intent to hurt others.
2. An indicator, such as a warning light, that serves to warn of a hazard or problem.
3. (figuratively) Something that serves to reveal something else.
4. (music) A movable piece of ivory, lead, or other material, connected to the bellows of an organ, whose position indicates when the wind is exhausted.
5. (nautical) A length of yarn or ribbon attached to a sail or shroud etc to indicate the direction of the flow of the air relative to the boat.
6. (nautical) A mechanical attachment to the steering wheel, which, in the absence of a tiller, shows the position of the helm.
7. (nautical) A compass in the cabin of a vessel, usually placed where the captain can see it at all hours, and thus inform himself of the vessel's course.
8. (engineering) A machine or contrivance for indicating or recording something, particularly for keeping a check upon employees (factory hands, watchmen, drivers, etc.) by revealing to their employers what they have done or omitted.

Example Sentences

Your husband is at hand; I heare his Trumpet, / We are not tell-tales, Madam; feare you not.

There were some ill-natured people —tell-tales—it seemed, in Tamai; and hence there was a deal of mystery about getting up the dance.

Louis tells me that the gossip of the sailors finds its way aft, and that two of the telltales have been badly beaten by their mates.

The Chinese girls who saw me yesterday are telltales. I'd better wait till dark.

Try to teach your child that there's a time to intervene and a time to mind your own business. Nobody loves a telltale.

A railroad company, which has properly erected a “telltale,” or signal board, to give warning of the approach of a train to a bridge and which lights the place at night by an electric light, is not responsible for injury caused at night by the “telltale” to a brakeman who had been passing under it at regular intervals for five weeks, though when injured he was standing upon a new car higher than those before used, and though he ad received no warning from the company as to the danger of standing upon such a car while passing under the "telltale".

A float telltale to be provided which shall connect with indicator on first floor by a small chain run through 1-2 inch pipe and over pulleys well guarded against the weather.

For example, when trailers containing new automobiles were first piggybacked two areas of potential damage became evident: (1) diesel locomotive exhaust left a film of oil on the new autos; and (2) auto windshields could be scarred or cracked by the metal-tipped "tell-tales" which warn men atop trains of oncoming bridges or tunnels. Accordingly, automobiles aboard piggyback flats are usually coupled into the train 15 or more cars behind the locomotive; and telltales have been raised.

Synonyms for telltale

Antonyms for telltale

Related Words

Word Forms

• telltales
• tell-tale
• tell tale
• more telltale
• most telltale

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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