sign
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /saɪn/
- Audio (US)help, file
- Rhymes: -aɪn
[edit] Homophones
[edit] Etymology 1
From Old French signe, from Latin signum (“‘a mark, sign, token’”); root uncertain.
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
sign (plural signs)
- (sometimes also used uncountably) A visible indication.
- Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn't want to talk.
- Those clouds show signs of raining soon.
- Those clouds show little sign of raining soon.
- A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
- The sign in the window said "for rent".
- A traffic sign.
- I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.
- A meaningful gesture.
- I gave them a thumbs-up sign.
- Any of several specialized non-alphabetic symbols.
- The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.
- An astrological sign.
- Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.
- (mathematics) Positive or negative polarity.
- I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.
- A linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.
- What's the sign for "computer"?
- (uncountable) sign language in general
- Sorry, I don't know sign very well.
- An omen.
- "It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
visible indication
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clearly visible object
traffic sign
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meaningful gesture
any of several specialized non-alphabetic symbols
astrological sign
positive or negative polarity
linguistic unit in sign language
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sign language in general
omen
[edit] Etymology 2
From Old French signer, from Latin signare (“‘to mark, seal, indicate, signify’”), from signum (“‘a mark, sign’”); see sign as a noun.
[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to sign (third-person singular simple present signs, present participle signing, simple past and past participle signed)
- (transitive) To write one's signature on (a document), thus showing authorship.
- I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
- (transitive) To give legal consent by writing one's signature.
- I'm not signing anything without my lawyer present.
- (transitive) To persuade to sign a contract.
- It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
- (intransitive) To write one's signature somewhere.
- Please sign on the dotted line.
- (intransitive) (colloquial) To give autographs.
- I'm sorry, I don't sign.
- (intransitive) To communicate using sign language.
- I'm learning to sign so I can talk to my new neighbor.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
to write one's signature on a document
to give legal consent by writing one's signature
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to persuade to sign a contract.
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to write one's signature somewhere
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to give autographs
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to communicate using sign language
[edit] External links
- sign in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- sign in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
