sign

plural signs

1. countableuncountableA visible fact that shows that something exists or may happen.

   Those clouds show signs of raining soon.

   4 more examples

   Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn't want to talk.

   Those clouds show little sign of raining soon.

   Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.

   1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

   No, I don't know why you're not fair / I give you my love, but you don't care / So what is right and what is wrong? / Gimme a sign

   1993 January 18, Dee Dee Halligan, Junior Torello, “What Is Love”, in The Album, performed by Haddaway

   Synonyms: indication, evidence

   1. countableuncountableAn omen.

      "It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.

      Synonyms: indication, evidence

   2. countableuncountablemedicineA property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, can be detected objectively by someone other than the patient.

      Signs of disease are objective, whereas symptoms are subjective.

      Synonyms: indication, evidence

2. countableuncountableA mark or another symbol used to represent something.

   I gave them a thumbs-up sign.

   2 more examples

   The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.

   The sound of the Orlando dinner train whistle reminds me that it ' s already Friday, an auditory sign. Another auditory sign, a distant thunder clap, warns me of limited computer time before our evening thunderstorm moves in.

   2000, Geoffrey McGuinness, Carmen McGuinness, How to Increase Your Child's Verbal Intelligence: The Language Wise Method, Yale University Press, →ISBN, page 38

   Synonyms: mark, marking, signal, symbol, token

3. AustraliaCanadaUSuncountablePhysical evidence left by an animal.

   The hunters found deer sign at the end of the trail.

   1 more example

   Animal sign is the key to eliminating guesswork when setting your traps. Only trap where there is sign. Sign is anything the animal leaves as a trace that indicates it may have passed through the area.

   2015, Dave Canterbury, Advanced Bushcraft: An Expert Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival, page 127

4. countableuncountableA clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.

   The sign in the window advertised a room for rent.

   2 more examples

   I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.

   The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs, which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter III, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

5. countableuncountableA wonder; miracle; prodigy.

   And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 4:17

6. countableuncountableastrologyAn astrological sign.

   Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.

7. countableuncountablemathematicsPositive or negative polarity, as denoted by the + or - sign.

   I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.

8. countableuncountableA specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.

   And why not, as well as our dumbe men dispute, argue and tell histories by signes?

   1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   In American Sign Language (ASL), for instance, the sign for 'catch' is formed with one hand (in the role of agent) moving across the body (an action) to grasp the forefinger of the other hand (the patient).

   2007, Marcel Danesi, The Quest for Meaning

9. uncountableSign language in general.

   Sorry, I don't know sign very well.

   1 more example

   "He don't talk English, only Cheyenne and sign." "You speak Cheyenne," Mason argued. "Why does he need an interpreter?"

   1950, Dorothy M. Johnson, War Shirt; in Indian Country, London: Corgi, 1961, page 108

10. countableuncountableA semantic unit, something that conveys meaning or information (e.g. a word of written language); (linguistics, semiotics) a unit consisting of a signifier and a signified concept. (See sign (semiotics).)

    A Pronoun is a Noun implying a Person, but not admitting the Sign a or the before it.

    1753, Charles Davies, Busby's English Introduction to the Latin Tongue Examined, page 11

    2 more examples

    A Noun substantive and a Noun adjective may be thus distinguished, that a substantive may have the sign a or the before it; as, puer, a boy, the boy; but an adjective cannot, as, bonus, good.

    1692, Thomas Bennet, Short Introduction of Grammar ... of the Latine Tongue

    And some linguistic signs, like “the”, “and” or “with”, may lack apparent objects, though they are clearly meaningful and interpretable.

    2008, Eero Tarasti, Robert S. Hatten, A Sounding of Signs: Modalities and Moments in Music, Culture, and Philosophy : Essays in Honor of Eero Tarasti on His 60th Anniversary

11. countableuncountableA military emblem carried on a banner or standard.

    The great Ensign of Messiah blaz'd Aloft by Angels born, his Sign in Heav'n.

    1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

present singular third person signs · participle present signing · participle past signed · past signed · first person past singular signed · archaic present second person singular signest · past second person singular signed · archaic past second person singular signedst · present singular third person signs · archaic present singular third person signeth · past singular third person signed · past plural signed · past subjunctive signed · participle present signing · participle past signed

1. To make a mark
   1. archaictransitiveTo seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol.First known use 13th c.

      The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.

   2. transitiveTo mark, to put or leave a mark on.First known use 14th c.

      Meantime revolving in his thoughtful mind / The scar, with which his manly knee was sign'd […].

      1726, Elijah Fenton, The Odyssey of Homer

   3. transitiveTo validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it.First known use 15th c.

      Enquire the Iewes house out, giue him this deed, / And let him signe it […].

      c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

   4. transitiveMore generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc.First known use 15th c.

      I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.

   5. reflexivetransitiveTo write (one's name) as a signature.First known use 16th c.

      Just sign your name at the bottom there.

      1 more example

      I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.

   6. intransitiveTo write one's signature.First known use 17th c.

      Please sign on the dotted line.

   7. intransitiveTo finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc.First known use 19th c.

      Agents say Wales back Gavin Henson has signed for Cardiff Blues.

      2011, The Guardian, (headline), 18 Oct 2011

   8. transitiveTo engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract.First known use 19th c.

      It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.

2. To make the sign of the cross
   1. transitiveTo bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross.First known use 14th c.

      At the baptismal ceremony the child was […] signed with the cross in holy water.

      1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society, published 2012, page 34

      1 more example

      We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross.

      1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacramentes, […], London: […] Edowardi Whitchurche […], →OCLC

   2. reflexiveTo cross oneself.First known use 15th c.

      Shaking a fist at him with one fierce arm, / Signing himself with the other because of Christ.

      1855, Robert Browning, Men and Women

3. To indicate
   1. intransitiveTo communicate using a gesture or signal.First known use 16th c.

      I signed to Brown to make his retreat.

      1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC

   2. transitiveTo communicate or make known (a meaning, intention, etc.) by a sign.

      Pierre signed his acquiescence, and Isabel proceeded:

      1852, Herman Melville, Pierre; or The Ambiguities

   3. transitiveTo communicate using gestures to (someone).First known use 16th c.

      He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.

   4. intransitiveTo use sign language.First known use 19th c.
   5. transitiveTo furnish (a road etc.) with signs.First known use 20th c.
4. To determine the sign of
   1. transitiveTo calculate or derive whether a quantity has a positive or negative sign.