sign
nounverbtop 1 000 in film dialogue
- Canada//saɪn//
A visible fact that shows that something exists or may happen.
noun
- 1
A visible fact that shows that something exists or may happen.
Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn't want to talk.
Those clouds show signs of raining soon.
Those clouds show little sign of raining soon.
Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.
- 2
A visible fact that shows that something exists or may happen. An omen.
"It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.
- 3
A visible fact that shows that something exists or may happen. A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, can be detected objectively by someone other than the patient.
Signs of disease are objective, whereas symptoms are subjective.
- 4
A mark or another symbol used to represent something.
The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.
I gave them a thumbs-up sign.
The sound of the Orlando dinner train whistle reminds me that it ' s already Friday, an auditory sign. Another auditory sign, a distant thunder clap, warns me of limited computer time before our evening thunderstorm moves in.
- 5
Physical evidence left by an animal.
The hunters found deer sign at the end of the trail.
Animal sign is the key to eliminating guesswork when setting your traps. Only trap where there is sign. Sign is anything the animal leaves as a trace that indicates it may have passed through the area.
- 6
A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
The sign in the window advertised a room for rent.
I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.
The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.
- 7
A wonder; miracle; prodigy.
And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
- 8
An astrological sign.
Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.
- 9
Positive or negative polarity, as denoted by the + or - sign.
I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.
- 10
A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.
And why not, as well as our dumbe men dispute, argue and tell histories by signes?
In American Sign Language (ASL), for instance, the sign for 'catch' is formed with one hand (in the role of agent) moving across the body (an action) to grasp the forefinger of the other hand (the patient).
- 11
Sign language in general.
Sorry, I don't know sign very well.
- 12
A semantic unit, something that conveys meaning or information (e.g. a word of written language); (linguistics, semiotics) a unit consisting of a signifier and a signified concept. (See sign (semiotics).)
A Noun substantive and a Noun adjective may be thus distinguished, that a substantive may have the sign a or the before it; as, puer, a boy, the boy; but an adjective cannot, as, bonus, good.
A Pronoun is a Noun implying a Person, but not admitting the Sign a or the before it.
And some linguistic signs, like “the”, “and” or “with”, may lack apparent objects, though they are clearly meaningful and interpretable.
- 13
A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.
The great Ensign of Messiah blaz'd Aloft by Angels born, his Sign in Heav'n.
Etymology
From Middle English signe, sygne, syng, seine, sine, syne, from Old English seġn (“sign; mark; token”) and Old French signe, seing (“sign; mark; signature”); both from Latin signum (“a mark; sign; token”); root uncertain. Doublet of signum and signal. Partially displaced native token.
verb
- 1
archaicTo make a mark To seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol.
The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.
- 2
To make a mark To mark, to put or leave a mark on.
Meantime revolving in his thoughtful mind / The scar, with which his manly knee was sign'd […].
- 3
To make a mark To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it.
Enquire the Iewes house out, giue him this deed, / And let him signe it […].
- 4
To make a mark More generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc.
I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
- 5
To make a mark To write (one's name) as a signature.
Just sign your name at the bottom there.
I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.
- 6
To make a mark To write one's signature.
Please sign on the dotted line.
- 7
To make a mark To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc.
Agents say Wales back Gavin Henson has signed for Cardiff Blues.
- 8
To make a mark To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract.
It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
- 9
To make the sign of the cross To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross.
We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross.
At the baptismal ceremony the child was […] signed with the cross in holy water.
- 10
To make the sign of the cross To cross oneself.
Shaking a fist at him with one fierce arm, / Signing himself with the other because of Christ.
- 11
To indicate To communicate using a gesture or signal.
I signed to Brown to make his retreat.
- 12
To indicate To communicate or make known (a meaning, intention, etc.) by a sign.
Pierre signed his acquiescence, and Isabel proceeded:
- 13
To indicate To communicate using gestures to (someone).
He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.
- 14
To indicate To use sign language.
- 15
To indicate To furnish (a road etc.) with signs.
- 16
To determine the sign of
- 17
To determine the sign of To calculate or derive whether a quantity has a positive or negative sign.
Etymology
From Middle English signen, seinen, seinien, partly from Old English seġnian (“to mark; sign”) and partly from Anglo-Norman seigner, seiner et al., Old French signer et al., and their source Latin signāre (“to mark, seal, indicate, signify”); all from Latin signum (“a mark, sign”); see Etymology 1, above. Compare sain.
Forms
- plural
- signs
- past tense
- signed
- past participle
- signed
- present participle
- signing
- third person singular
- signs
sign · A visible fact that shows that something exists or may happen.
signal · A sequence of states representing an encoded message in a…signature · A person's name, written by that person, used as…signed · Having a signature; endorsed.