Definition of sign
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : a motion or gesture by which a thought is expressed or a command or wish made known
b : signal sense 2a
c : a fundamental linguistic unit that designates an object or relation or has a purely syntactic function
signs include words, morphemes, and punctuation
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
4a(1) : a character (such as a flat or sharp) used in musical notation
(2) : segno
b : a character (such 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
5a : a display (such 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
6a : 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
d : an objective evidence of plant or animal disease
7 plural usually sign : traces of a usually wild animal
red fox sign
sign
verbsigned; signing; signs
Definition of sign (Entry 2 of 2)
1a : cross sense 2
b : to place a sign on or mark by signs sign a trail
c : to represent or indicate by a sign
2a : to affix a signature to : ratify or attest by hand or seal
sign a bill into law sign a confession
b : to assign or convey formally
signed over his property to his brother
c : to write down (one's name)
d : to affix one's name to
a signed review
3 : to communicate by making a sign or by sign language
4 : to engage or hire by securing the signature of on a contract of employment
—often used with up or on
1 : to write one's name in token of assent, responsibility, or obligation
signed for the packages signed with the team for one season
2a : to make a sign or signal
b : to use sign language
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Share sign
Time Traveler for sign
The first known use of sign was in the 13th century
See more words from the same century