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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.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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 SYNONYMS FOR sign ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM sign

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sign

sign sing (see synonym study at the current entry)

Words nearby sign

sigmoidoscope, sigmoidoscopy, sigmoidostomy, sigmoidotomy, sigmund, sign, sign away, sign in, sign language, sign manual, sign of aggregation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for signed

In fact, by the end of 2014, it passed over 220 bills, which were signed into law by President Barack Obama.
Nazis, Sunscreen, and Sea Gull Eggs: Congress in 2014 Was Hella Productive|Ben Jacobs|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 2007, President Bush signed a law that required all Head Start grantees to be evaluated using an evidence-based system.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball?|Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Craig is signed on for just one more Bond flick after Spectre.
Exclusive: Sony Emails Reveal Studio Head Wants Idris Elba For the Next James Bond|William Boot|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But these must be proven under a signed and sworn statement and judged reasonable by the DOH.
No More Paper Prescriptions: Docs Fight Fraud by Going Electronic|Dale Eisinger|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Henry only signed the statement because he believed that he had to do that in order to go home.
How the U.S. Justice System Screws Prisoners with Disabilities|Elizabeth Picciuto|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her name is among the five abbesses who signed a charter granting church privileges at a Kentish Witanagemot.
Early Double Monasteries|Constance Stoney
But when they rose Michael signed to his cousin to go on, and planted himself firmly in the path to the door.
Michael|E. F. Benson
Burr, in committee, frankly declared that the surplus was to establish a bank, and Governor Jay signed the bill.
The Life of John Marshall Volume 3 of 4|Albert J. Beveridge
Minutes are taken and, if signed at the meeting or the next ensuing meeting, are made evidence.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 4|Various
What a fool I had been not to have actually made the removal of them a sine qua non before I signed the contract!
Man and Maid|Elinor Glyn

British Dictionary definitions for signed

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 forms of sign

signable, 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

Medical definitions for signed

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.

Scientific definitions for signed

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 signed

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

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