sign (n.)

  1. 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

    [ Syn: mark ]

  2. a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified; The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary--de Saussure

  3. a character indicating a relation between quantities; don't forget the minus sign'

  4. a public display of a message; he posted signs in all the shop windows'

  5. any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message; signals from the boat suddenly stopped

    [ Syn: signal , signaling ]

  6. structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted; the highway was lined with signboards

    [ Syn: signboard ]

  7. (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

    [ Syn: sign of the zodiac , star sign , mansion , house , planetary house ]

  8. (medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease; there were no signs of asphyxiation'

  9. having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges); he got the polarity of the battery reversed; charges of opposite sign

    [ Syn: polarity ]

  10. an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come; he hoped it was an augury; it was a sign from God

    [ Syn: augury , foretoken , preindication ]

  11. a gesture that is part of a sign language

    sign (adj.)

  1. used of the language of the deaf

    [ Syn: gestural , signed , sign-language ]

    sign (v.)

  1. mark with ones signature; write ones name (on); She signed the letter and sent it off; Please sign here

    [ Syn: subscribe ]

  2. approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation; All parties ratified the peace treaty; Have you signed your contract yet?

    [ Syn: ratify ]

  3. be engaged by a written agreement; He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18; The soprano signed to sing the new opera'

  4. engage by written agreement; They signed two new pitchers for the next season

    [ Syn: contract , sign on , sign up ]

  5. 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

    [ Syn: signal , signalize , signalise ]

  6. place signs, as along a road; sign an intersection; This road has been signed'

  7. communicate in sign language; I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin'

  8. make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate

    [ Syn: bless ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.