signature

[sig-nuh-cher, -choor]

noun

1. a person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.

2. the act of signing a document.

3. Music.,  a sign or set of signs at the beginning of a staff to indicate the key or the time of a piece.

4. Radio.,  a song, musical arrangement, sound effect, etc., used as a theme identifying a program.

5. any unique, distinguishing aspect, feature, or mark.

6. Medicine/Medical.,  that part of a written prescription that specifies directions for use.

7. Biology, Medicine/Medical.,  a distinctive characteristic or set of characteristics by which a biological structure or medical condition is recognized.

8. Also called section. Bookbinding.,  a printed sheet folded to page size for binding together, with other such sheets, to form a book, magazine, etc.

9. Printing.

   1. a letter or other symbol generally placed by the printer at the foot of the first page of every sheet to guide the binder in folding the sheets and in gathering them in sequence.

   2. a sheet so marked.

10. Chemistry, Physics.,  a characteristic trace or sign that indicates the presence of a substance or the occurrence of a physical process or event.

    The satellite recorded a spectrum that is the signature of a nuclear explosion.

adjective

1. serving to identify or distinguish a person, group, etc..

   a signature tune.

signature

/ ˈsɪɡnɪtʃə /

noun

1. the name of a person or a mark or sign representing his name, marked by himself or by an authorized deputy

2. the act of signing one's name

3. 1. a distinctive mark, characteristic, etc, that identifies a person or thing

   2. ( as modifier )

      a signature fragrance

4. music See key signature time signature

5. Abbreviation: Sig.  S. the part of a medical prescription that instructs a patient how frequently and in what amounts he should take a drug or agent

6. printing

   1. a sheet of paper printed with several pages that upon folding will become a section or sections of a book

   2. such a sheet so folded

   3. a mark, esp a letter, printed on the first page of a signature

Other Word Forms

• signatureless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of signature¹

1525–35; < Medieval Latin signātūra a signing, equivalent to Latin signāt ( us ) past participle of signāre to mark ( sign, -ate ¹ ) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of signature¹

C16: from Old French, from Medieval Latin signātura, from Latin signāre to sign

Example Sentences

To that point, his signature moment in October might have been muffing a routine fly ball in the decisive Game 5 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers last fall.

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The Academy noted the author's flowing syntax with long, winding sentences devoid of full stops that has become his signature.

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But from now on, nobody can ever say again that Judge doesn’t have a signature playoff moment.

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Over the years, they have repeatedly taken aim at the signature health law of former President Barack Obama.

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One ironic artifact is a letter to a friend of Otto Frank’s from an unnamed Viking editor—the signature is illegible—rejecting the manuscript.

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Related Words

• autograph 
• identification 
• ink 
• name 
• seal 
• stamp 
• trademark