Noun
1. a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened);
"he showed signs of strain""they welcomed the signs of spring"2. a public display of a (usually written) message;
"he posted signs in all the shop windows"3. any communication that encodes a message;
"signals from the boat suddenly stopped"4. structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted;
"the highway was lined with signboards"5. (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
6. (medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease;
"there were no signs of asphixiation"7. having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges);
"he got the polarity of the battery reversed""charges of opposite sign"8. an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come;
"he hoped it was an augury""it was a sign from God"9. a gesture that is part of a sign language
10. a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified;
"The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary"--de Saussure11. a character indicating a relation between quantities;
"don't forget the minus sign"Verb
1. mark with one's signature; write one's name (on);
"She signed the letter and sent it off""Please sign here"2. approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation;
"All parties ratified the peace treaty""Have you signed your contract yet?"3. be engaged by a written agreement;
"He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18""The soprano signed to sing the new opera"4. engage by written agreement;
"They signed two new pitchers for the next season"5. communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs;
"He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture""The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu"6. place signs, as along a road;
"sign an intersection""This road has been signed"7. communicate in sign language;
"I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin"8. make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate