sign

Meanings

• a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
  • "he showed signs of strain"
  • "they welcomed the signs of spring"
• a public display of a message
  • "he posted signs in all the shop windows"
• any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
  • "signals from the boat suddenly stopped"
• structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted
  • "the highway was lined with signboards"
• (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
• (medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease
  • "there were no signs of asphyxiation"
• having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges)
  • "charges of opposite sign"
• an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come
  • "it was a sign from God"
• a gesture that is part of a sign language
• a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified; --de Saussure
  • "The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary"
• a character indicating a relation between quantities
  • "don't forget the minus sign"
• mark with one's signature; write one's name (on)
  • "She signed the letter and sent it off"
  • "Please sign here"
• approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
  • "Have you signed your contract yet?"
• be engaged by a written agreement
  • "He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18"
  • "The soprano signed to sing the new opera"
• engage by written agreement
  • "They signed two new pitchers for the next season"
• communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs
  • "He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture"
  • "The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu"
• place signs, as along a road
  • "sign an intersection"
  • "This road has been signed"
• communicate in sign language
  • "I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin"
• make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate
• used of the language of the deaf

Synonyms

augury, bless, contract, foretoken, gestural, house, mansion, mark, planetary house, polarity, preindication, ratify, sign of the zodiac, sign on, sign up, sign-language, signal, signaling, signalise, signalize, signboard, signed, star sign, subscribe