- 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 language2: a mark having a conventional meaning and used in place of words or to represent a complex notion3: one of the 12 divisions of the zodiac4 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 negative5 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: signboard6 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 disease7plural 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>.
