cone-shaped object that is usually orange or orange and white, used to keep vehicles away from an area of road temporarily, usually because repairs are being done to it: One lane of the road was closed off by traffic cones.Traffic cones, also called pylons, witches' hats, road cones, highway cones, safety cones, caution cones, channelizing devices, construction cones, roadworks cones, or just cones, are usually cone-shaped markers that are placed on roads or footpaths to temporarily redirect traffic in a safe manner