#initial-load-header-loader { visibility: hidden!important; } #initial-load-content { visibility: visible!important; } .expandable .expandable-control { display: none!important; } .expandable .expandable-content { display: block!important; visibility: visible!important; max-height: none!important; height: auto!important; }

sign

[sahyn]

||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sign ON THESAURUS.COM

WATCH NOW: Why Does The Word "Sign" Have So Many Meanings?

WATCH NOW: Why Does The Word "Sign" Have So Many Meanings?

It's confusing because the word "sign" has so many meanings, which is why it can be added to lyrics to symbolize a lot of different things. So, what do some of our favorite singers mean when use the word "sign" in their music?

MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM

noun

a token; indication.

any object, action, event, pattern, etc., that conveys a meaning.

a conventional or arbitrary mark, figure, or symbol used as an abbreviation for the word or words it represents.

a motion or gesture used to express or convey an idea, command, decision, etc.: Her nod was a sign that it was time to leave.

a notice, bearing a name, direction, warning, or advertisement, that is displayed or posted for public view: a traffic sign; a store sign.

a trace; vestige: There wasn't a sign of them.

an arbitrary or conventional symbol used in musical notation to indicate tonality, tempo, etc.

Medicine/Medical. the objective indications of a disease.

any meaningful gestural unit belonging to a sign language.

an omen; portent: a sign of approaching decadence.

sign of the zodiac.

sign language(def 1).

Usually signs. traces, as footprints, of a wild animal.

Mathematics.

a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating addition or subtraction.
a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating the positive or negative value of a quantity, as an integer.
multiplication sign.
division sign.
a symbol, as  or !, used to indicate a radical or factorial operation.

verb (used with object)

to affix a signature to: to sign a letter.

to write as a signature: to sign one's name.

to engage by written agreement: to sign a new player.

to mark with a sign, especially the sign of the cross.

to communicate by means of a sign; signal: He signed his wish to leave.

to convey (a message) in a sign language.

Obsolete. to direct or appoint by a sign.

verb (used without object)

to write one's signature, as a token of agreement, obligation, receipt, etc.: to sign for a package.

to make a sign or signal: He signed to her to go away.

to employ a sign language for communication.

to obligate oneself by signature: He signed with another team for the next season.

Verb Phrases

sign away/over, to assign or dispose of by affixing one's signature to a document: She signed over her fortune to the church.

sign in, to record or authorize one's arrival (or departure) by signing a register.Also sign out.

sign off,

to withdraw, as from some responsibility or connection.
to cease radio or television broadcasting, especially at the end of the day.
Informal.to become silent: He had exhausted conversation topics and signed off.
to indicate one's approval explicitly if not formally: The president is expected to sign off on the new agreement.

sign on,

to employ; hire.
to bind oneself to work, as by signing a contract: He signed on as a pitcher with a major-league team.
to start radio or television broadcasting, especially at the beginning of the day.
Computers.log¹(def 17a).

sign up, to enlist, as in an organization or group; to register or subscribe: to sign up for the navy; to sign up for class.

RELATED CONTENT

Did your horoscope sign change? Regardless, learn what the words for the zodiac signs literally mean.

Suddenly, a zinger about the zodiac seems to be everywhere online. If you haven’t heard, the Minnesota Planetarium Society has pointed out that the dates associated with horoscopes have been incorrect for a very, very long time. This means that the astrological sign you have always associated with yourself may be “wrong”. We discuss the reasons behind this age-old discrepancy, here. Another fascinating consequence of …

The 13th Zodiac Sign: Ophiuchus

Whether or not you believe that the position and relationship of the sun, moon, stars, and planets has any bearing on your personality, you probably still know what your astrological sign is. The zodiac contains twelve constellations and is divided into twelve equal segments. Each astrological sign represents one of the segments. The signs are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, …

RELATED WORDS

harbinger, trace, hint, light, signal, prediction, clue, note, flag, warning, gesture, suggestion, manifestation, wave, symbol, symptom, proof, notice, emblem, placard

Origin of sign

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English signe < Old French < Latin signum mark, sign, ensign, signal, image; (v.) Middle English signen to mark with a sign, especially the sign of the cross < Old French signer < Latin signāre to mark with a sign, inscribe, affix a seal to, derivative of signum

Related formssign·less, adjectivesign·like, adjectivepost·sign, verb (used with object)un·signed, adjective

Can be confusedsign sing (see synonym study at the current entry)

Synonyms for sign

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sign ON THESAURUS.COM

1. trace, hint, suggestion. 1, 4. signal. 10. indication, hint, augury. Sign, omen, portent name that which gives evidence of a future event. Sign is a general word for whatever gives evidence of an event—past, present, or future: Dark clouds are a sign of rain or snow. An omen is an augury or warning of things to come; it is used only of the future, in general, as good or bad: birds of evil omen. Portent, limited, like omen, to prophecy of the future, may be used of a specific event, usually a misfortune: portents of war.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sign

Contemporary Examples of sign

They are always suspended over a precipice, dangling by a slender thread that shows every sign of snapping.
How the PC Police Threaten Free Speech
Nick Gillespie
January 9, 2015
It was hard not to take it as a sign, a personal comment on my own Jewish dating failings.
My Week on Jewish Tinder
Emily Shire
January 5, 2015
If he did, it could be a sign that our politicians are ready to resume genuine policy-making across party lines.
Christie Blames Parents for Bad Economy
Monica Potts
January 3, 2015
President Harry Truman kept a sign on his desk that read: “The Buck Stops Here.”
The ‘No Child’ Rewrite Threatens Your Kids’ Future
Jonah Edelman
January 3, 2015
He refused to sign the Constitution, for good reasons and bad.
Forget the Resolutions; Try a Few Declarations
Kevin Bleyer
January 1, 2015

Historical Examples of sign

He had evinced not the least sign of any disposition even to criticise.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
It proved to be a sign some twenty feet high and a whole block long.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
No sir, not one, and I can find no sign of the Triassic period.
Punchinello, Vol. 1. No. 20, August 13, 1870
Various
There was no sign of the body of Andrew Lanning among the rocks.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
They remembered the rifle of Andrew and had gone on without making a sign.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand

British Dictionary definitions for sign

sign

noun

something that indicates or acts as a token of a fact, condition, etc, that is not immediately or outwardly observable

an action or gesture intended to convey information, a command, etc

a board, placard, etc, displayed in public and inscribed with words or designs intended to inform, warn, etc
(as modifier)a sign painter

an arbitrary or conventional mark or device that stands for a word, phrase, etc

maths logic

any symbol indicating an operationa plus sign; an implication sign
the positivity or negativity of a number, quantity, or expressionsubtraction from zero changes the sign of an expression

an indication or vestigethe house showed no signs of being occupied

a portentous or significant event

an indication, such as a scent or spoor, of the presence of an animal

med any objective evidence of the presence of a disease or disorderCompare symptom (def. 1)

astrology Compare sign of the zodiac

verb

to write (one's name) as a signature to (a document, etc) in attestation, confirmation, ratification, etc

(intr often foll by to) to make a sign; signal

to engage or be engaged by written agreement, as a player for a team, etc

(tr) to outline in gestures a sign over, esp the sign of the cross

(tr) to indicate by or as if by a sign; betoken

(intr) to use sign language

See also sign away, sign in, sign off, sign on, sign out, sign up

Derived Formssignable, adjective

Word Origin for sign

C13: from Old French signe, from Latin signum a sign

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for sign

n.

early 13c., "gesture or motion of the hand," especially one meant to communicate something, from Old French signe "sign, mark," from Latin signum "identifying mark, token, indication, symbol; proof; military standard, ensign; a signal, an omen; sign in the heavens, constellation," according to Watkins, literally "standard that one follows," from PIE *sekw-no-, from root *sekw- (1) "to follow" (see sequel).

Ousted native token. Meaning "a mark or device having some special importance" is recorded from late 13c.; that of "a miracle" is from c.1300. Zodiacal sense in English is from mid-14c. Sense of "characteristic device attached to the front of an inn, shop, etc., to distinguish it from others" is first recorded mid-15c. Meaning "token or signal of some condition" (late 13c.) is behind sign of the times (1520s). In some uses, the word probably is a shortening of ensign. Sign language is recorded from 1847; earlier hand-language (1670s).

v.

c.1300, "to make the sign of the cross," from Old French signier "to make a sign (to someone); to mark," from Latin signare "to set a mark upon, mark out, designate; mark with a stamp; distinguish, adorn;" figuratively "to point out, signify, indicate," from signum (see sign (n.)). Sense of "to mark, stamp" is attested from mid-14c.; that of "to affix one's name" is from late 15c. Meaning "to communicate by hand signs" is recorded from 1700. Related: Signed; signing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for sign

sign

[sīn]

n.

An objective finding, usually detected on physical examination, from a laboratory test, or on an x-ray, that indicates the presence of abnormality or disease.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for sign

sign

[sīn]

A body manifestation, usually detected on physical examination or through laboratory tests or xrays, that indicates the presence of abnormality or disease. Compare symptom.

See symbol. See Table at symbol.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Idioms and Phrases with sign

sign

In addition to the idioms beginning with sign

sign in
sign off
sign on
sign one's own death warrant
sign on the dotted line
sign out
sign over
sign up

, see

high sign
show signs of

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.