Main Entry: ¹sign

Pronunciation: \ˈsīn\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English signe, from Anglo-French, from Latin signum mark, token, sign, image, seal; perhaps akin to Latin secare to cut — more at saw

Date: 13th century

1 a : a motion or gesture by which a thought is expressed or a command or wish made known b : signal 2a c : a fundamental linguistic unit that designates an object or relation or has a purely syntactic function <signs include words, morphemes, and punctuation> d : one of a set of gestures used to represent language; also : sign language
2 : a mark having a conventional meaning and used in place of words or to represent a complex notion
3 : one of the 12 divisions of the zodiac
4 a (1) : a character (as a flat or sharp) used in musical notation (2) : segno b : a character (as ÷) indicating a mathematical operation; also : one of two characters + and − that form part of the symbol of a number and characterize it as positive or negative
5 a : a display (as a lettered board or a configuration of neon tubing) used to identify or advertise a place of business or a product b : a posted command, warning, or direction c : signboard
6 a : something material or external that stands for or signifies something spiritual b : something indicating the presence or existence of something else <signs of success> <a sign of the times> c : presage, portent <signs of an early spring> d : an objective evidence of plant or animal disease
7 plural usually sign : traces of a usually wild animal <red fox sign>

synonyms sign, mark, token, note, symptom mean a discernible indication of what is not itself directly perceptible. sign applies to any indication to be perceived by the senses or the reason <encouraging signs for the economy>. mark suggests something impressed on or inherently characteristic of a thing often in contrast to general outward appearance <a mark of a good upbringing>. token applies to something that serves as a proof of something intangible <this gift is a token of our esteem>. note suggests a distinguishing mark or characteristic <a note of irony in her writing>. symptom suggests an outward indication of an internal change or condition <rampant crime is a symptom of that city's decay>.