sign-on

[sahyn-on, -awn]

noun

1. Radio and Television.,  the opening salutation, station identification, etc., at the beginning of the broadcast day.

2. an act or instance of signing on.

sign on

verb

1. (tr) to hire or employ

2. (intr) to commit oneself to a job, activity, etc

3. (intr) to register as unemployed with the Department of Social Security

Word History and Origins

Origin of sign on¹

First recorded in 1880–85; noun use of verb phrase sign on

Idioms and Phrases

Enlist oneself as an employee, as in Arthur decided to sign on with the new software company . [Late 1800s]

Begin radio or television broadcasting, especially at the beginning of the day, as in What time does the station sign on? [c. 1920]

Related Words

• admit 
• appoint 
• assign 
• attract 
• call up 
• conscript 
• employ 
• engage 
• enroll 
• enter 
• gather 
• hire 
• join 
• mobilize 
• recruit 
• serve 
• volunteer