|
Dictionary  signPronunciation: (sīn), [key] —n. 1. a token; indication. 2. any object, action, event, pattern, etc., that conveys a meaning. 3. a conventional or arbitrary mark, figure, or symbol used as an abbreviation for the word or words it represents. 4. a motion or gesture used to express or convey an idea, command, decision, etc.: Her nod was a sign that it was time to leave. 5. a notice, bearing a name, direction, warning, or advertisement, that is displayed or posted for public view: a traffic sign; a store sign. 6. a trace; vestige: There wasn't a sign of them. 7. an arbitrary or conventional symbol used in musical notation to indicate tonality, tempo, etc. 8. Med.the objective indications of a disease. 9. any meaningful gestural unit belonging to a sign language. 10. an omen; portent: a sign of approaching decadence. 11. See sign of the zodiac. 12. See sign language (def. 1). 13. Usually, signs. traces, as footprints, of a wild animal. 14. Math. a. a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating addition or subtraction. b. a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating the positive or negative value of a quantity, as an integer. c. See multiplication sign. d. See division sign. e. a symbol, as &fullradic; or !, used to indicate a radical or factorial operation. —v.t. 1. to affix a signature to: to sign a letter. 2. to write as a signature: to sign one's name. 3. to engage by written agreement: to sign a new player. 4. to mark with a sign, esp. the sign of the cross. 5. to communicate by means of a sign; signal: He signed his wish to leave. 6. to convey (a message) in a sign language. 7. Obs.to direct or appoint by a sign. —v.i. 1. to write one's signature, as a token of agreement, obligation, receipt, etc.: to sign for a package. 2. to make a sign or signal: He signed to her to go away. 3. to employ a sign language for communication. 4. to obligate oneself by signature: He signed with another team for the next season. 5. sign away or over,to assign or dispose of by affixing one's signature to a document: She signed over her fortune to the church. 6. sign in ( or out) to record or authorize one's arrival (or departure) by signing a register. 7. sign off, a. to withdraw, as from some responsibility or connection. b. to cease radio or television broadcasting, esp. at the end of the day. c. Informal.to become silent: He had exhausted conversation topics and signed off. d. to indicate one's approval explicitly if not formally: The president is expected to sign off on the new agreement. 8. sign on, a. to employ; hire. b. to bind oneself to work, as by signing a contract: He signed on as a pitcher with a major-league team. c. to start radio or television broadcasting, esp. at the beginning of the day. d. Computers.log1 (def. 17a). 9. sign up,to enlist, as in an organization or group; to register or subscribe: to sign up for the navy; to sign up for class. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also:
|
|
