sign-off

or sign·off

[ sahyn-awf, -of ]

/ ˈsaɪnˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sign-off ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or fact of signing off.

personal approval or authorization; endorsement.

Nearby words

sign out, sign over, sign test, sign up, sign-in, sign-off, sign-on, sign-out, sign-up, signa, signable

Origin of sign-off

First recorded in 1925–30; noun use of verb phrase sign off

Definition for sign off (2 of 2)

sign

[ sahyn ]

/ saɪn /

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 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.

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

SYNONYMS FOR sign

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.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sign ON THESAURUS.COM

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)

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

British Dictionary definitions for sign off (1 of 2)

sign off

verb (adverb)

(intr) to announce the end of a radio or television programme, esp at the end of a day

(intr) bridge to make a conventional bid indicating to one's partner that one wishes the bidding to stop

(tr) to withdraw or retire from (an activity)

(tr) (of a doctor) to declare (someone) unfit for work, because of illness

(intr) British to terminate one's claim to unemployment benefit

British Dictionary definitions for sign off (2 of 2)

sign

/ (saɪn) /

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

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 off (1 of 2)

sign

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).

Word Origin and History for sign off (1 of 2)

sign

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.

Medicine definitions for sign off

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.

Science definitions for sign off

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.

Idioms and Phrases with sign off (1 of 2)

sign off

Announce the end of a communication, especially a broadcast. For example, There's no one there now; the station has signed off for the night. [c. 1920]

Stop talking, become silent, as in Every time the subject of marriage came up, Harold signed off. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

Express approval formally or conclusively, as in The President got the majority leader to sign off on the tax proposal. This usage is colloquial.

Idioms and Phrases with sign off (2 of 2)

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

sign-off

or sign·off

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of sign-off

Definition for sign off (2 of 2)

sign

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Verb Phrases

Origin of sign

British Dictionary definitions for sign off (1 of 2)

sign off

verb (adverb)

British Dictionary definitions for sign off (2 of 2)

sign

noun

verb

Word Origin for sign

Word Origin and History for sign off (1 of 2)

sign

Word Origin and History for sign off (1 of 2)

sign

Medicine definitions for sign off

sign

n.

Science definitions for sign off

sign

Idioms and Phrases with sign off (1 of 2)

sign off

Idioms and Phrases with sign off (2 of 2)

sign