sign
1. a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened) (Freq. 18)
- he showed signs of strain
- they welcomed the signs of spring
• Syn:
mark
• Derivationally related forms:
mark (for: mark), signify
• Hypernyms:
clue, clew, cue
• Hyponyms:
token
2. a public display of a message (Freq. 5)
- he posted signs in all the shop windows
• Hypernyms:
communication
• Hyponyms:
poster, posting, placard, notice, bill,
card, street sign, signpost, guidepost
3. any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message (Freq. 4)
- signals from the boat suddenly stopped
• Syn:
signal, signaling
• Derivationally related forms:
signify, signal (for: signaling), signal (for: signal), signalize (for: signal)
• Hypernyms:
communication
• Hyponyms:
recording, phone number, telephone number, number, starting signal,
start, storm signal, radio beam, beam, ticktack, time signal,
dog-ear, animal communication, alarm, alert, warning signal, alarum,
distress signal, distress call, all clear, bugle call, curfew, retreat,
drumbeat, telegraphic signal, radiotelegraphic signal, whistle, whistling, high sign,
symbol, visual signal, indicator, electronic signal, radio beacon, input signal,
input, output signal, output
4. structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted (Freq. 3)
- the highway was lined with signboards
• Syn:
signboard
• Hypernyms:
structure, construction
• Hyponyms:
billboard, hoarding, sandwich board, scoreboard, shingle
5. (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided (Freq. 2)
• Syn:
sign of the zodiac, star sign, mansion, house, planetary house
• Topics:
astrology, star divination
• Hypernyms:
region, part
• Instance Hyponyms:
Aries, Aries the Ram, Ram, Taurus, Taurus the Bull,
Bull, Gemini, Gemini the Twins, Twins, Cancer, Cancer the Crab,
Crab, Leo, Leo the Lion, Lion, Virgo, Virgo the Virgin,
Virgin, Libra, Libra the Balance, Balance, Libra the Scales, Scorpio,
Scorpio the Scorpion, Scorpion, Sagittarius, Sagittarius the Archer, Archer, Capricorn,
Capricorn the Goat, Goat, Aquarius, Aquarius the Water Bearer, Water Bearer, Pisces,
Pisces the Fishes, Fish
• Part Holonyms:
zodiac
6. (medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease (Freq. 1)
- there were no signs of asphyxiation
• Topics:
medicine, medical specialty
• Hypernyms:
evidence, grounds
• Hyponyms:
vital sign
• Part Holonyms:
disease
7. an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come (Freq. 1)
- he hoped it was an augury
- it was a sign from God
• Syn:
augury, foretoken, preindication
• Derivationally related forms:
inaugurate (for: augury)
• Hypernyms:
experience
• Hyponyms:
war cloud, omen, portent, presage, prognostic,
prognostication, prodigy
8. having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges) (Freq. 1)
- he got the polarity of the battery reversed
- charges of opposite sign
• Syn:
polarity
• Derivationally related forms:
polar (for: polarity)
• Hypernyms:
opposition, oppositeness
• Hyponyms:
positivity, positiveness, negativity, negativeness
9. a gesture that is part of a sign language (Freq. 1)
• Derivationally related forms:
signify
• Hypernyms:
gesture, motion
• Part Holonyms:
sign language, signing
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
• Topics:
linguistics
• Hypernyms:
language unit, linguistic unit
11. a character indicating a relation between quantities
- don't forget the minus sign
• Derivationally related forms:
signify
• Hypernyms:
mathematical notation
• Hyponyms:
equal sign, plus sign, minus sign, radical sign
1. mark with one's signature;
write one's name (on) (Freq. 16)
- She signed the letter and sent it off
- Please sign here
• Syn:
subscribe
• See Also:
sign in, sign away, sign over
• Derivationally related forms:
subscription (for: subscribe), signature, signer
• Hypernyms:
write
• Hyponyms:
rubricate
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s
- Somebody ----s something
- Somebody ----s PP
2. approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation (Freq. 13)
- All parties ratified the peace treaty
- Have you signed your contract yet?
• Syn:
ratify
• Derivationally related forms:
ratification (for: ratify), ratifier (for: ratify), signer
• Hypernyms:
validate, formalize, formalise
• Entailment:
endorse, indorse
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
3. be engaged by a written agreement (Freq. 8)
- He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18
- The soprano signed to sing the new opera
• Derivationally related forms:
signer
• Hypernyms:
contract, undertake
• Hyponyms:
undersign, ink, autograph, inscribe, initial,
countersign, execute, endorse, indorse
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
4. engage by written agreement (Freq. 2)
- They signed two new pitchers for the next season
• Syn:
contract, sign on, sign up
• Derivationally related forms:
contract (for: contract), signer
• Hypernyms:
hire, engage, employ
• Hyponyms:
contract out
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s somebody
- Somebody ----s
5. communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs (Freq. 1)
- He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture
- The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu
• Syn:
signal, signalize, signalise
• Derivationally related forms:
signal (for: signalize), signal (for: signal), signaller (for: signal), signaler (for: signal), signaling (for: signal), signer, signing
• Hypernyms:
communicate, intercommunicate
• Hyponyms:
wigwag, semaphore, heliograph, flag, whistle
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s
- Somebody ----s somebody
- They sign the information to them
- They sign them the information
6. place signs, as along a road
- sign an intersection
- This road has been signed
• Hypernyms:
put, set, place, pose, position, lay
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
7. communicate in sign language
- I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin
• Derivationally related forms:
signer
• Hypernyms:
communicate, intercommunicate
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
8. make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection;
consecrate
• Syn:
bless
• Hypernyms:
gesticulate, gesture, motion
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s somebody
used of the language of the deaf
• Syn:
gestural, signed, sign-language
• Similar to:
communicative, communicatory
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