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. See time signature, key signature
   music See key signature time signature
5. the part of a medical prescription that instructs a patient how frequently and in what amounts he should take a drug or agent AbbreviationSigS
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 Words From

• signa·ture·less 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

Fossil signatures of hibernation, a form of torpor, have turned up in rodent teeth several million years old.

From Science News

Early images of the exterior suggest the structure is a departure from Apple’s signature minimalism.

From Fortune

Just three weeks after the petition was launched, it had 3,750 signatures.

From Ozy

In its current form, the initiative, which would need to gather more than 100,000 valid signatures before qualifying for the ballot, would redirect OFRI’s budget to support outdoor education programs and rural job training.

From ProPublica

Ask election administrators how applications and ballots should be filled out, including signatures and candidate selections.

From ProPublica

It is not a decisive war, with a single, signature victory, but a war of attrition.

From The Daily Beast

The pieces are near-identical, excepting the signature buttons on the Chanel suit and a few small tailoring details.

From The Daily Beast

Even his signature instrument, Auto-Tune, has become as accepted an ingredient in hip-hop as the drum machine.

From The Daily Beast

Lacking any sense of irony, Eldridge made campaign-finance reform a signature plank.

From The Daily Beast

For obvious reasons, finalizing such an agreement would have required the presence and signature of both candidates.

From The Daily Beast

For a moment Joe stood behind her, silently, looking over her shoulder at the signature of Isom Chase.

From Project Gutenberg

It need not mention the sum to be paid for the land; it can be signed with a lead pencil: a stamp signature will suffice.

From Project Gutenberg

I see, too, the faces of all concerned with the sudden ugly signature of alarm where before had been peace.

From Project Gutenberg

Sutherland often spoke to me about that, and wondered if a will with an imperfect signature would pass.

From Project Gutenberg

Master never completed the signature, for he took to his bed that very day, and no one ever saw him put pen to paper again.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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