Meaning & Definition of Sign in English

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"

2. A public display of a message

• "He posted signs in all the shop windows"

3. Any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

• "Signals from the boat suddenly stopped"

4. Structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted

• "The highway was lined with signboards"

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

6. (medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease

• "There were no signs of asphyxiation"

7. 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"

8. An event that is experienced as indicating important things to come

• "He hoped it was an augury"

• "It was a sign from god"

9. A gesture that is part of a sign language

10. A fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified

• "The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary"--de saussure

11. A character indicating a relation between quantities

• "Don't forget the minus sign"

1. Mark with one's signature

• Write one's name (on)

• "She signed the letter and sent it off"

• "Please sign here"

2. Approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation

• "All parties ratified the peace treaty"

• "Have you signed your contract yet?"

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"

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"

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

1. Used of the language of the deaf