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Sign
A sign is an object, quality, event, or entity whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else. A natural sign bears a causal relation to its object—for instance, thunder is a sign of storm, or medical symptoms signify a disease. A conventional sign signifies by agreement, as a full stop signifies the end of a sentence; similarly the words and expressions of a language, as well as bodily gestures, can be regarded as signs, expressing particular meanings. The physical objects most commonly referred to as signs (notices, road signs, etc., collectively known as signage) generally inform or instruct using written text, symbols, pictures or a combination of these.
The philosophical study of signs and symbols is called semiotics; this includes the study of semiosis, which is the way in which signs (in the semiotic sense) operate.
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Sign (noun)
A visible indication.
“Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn’t want to talk.”
“Those clouds show signs of raining soon.”
“Those clouds show little sign of raining soon.”
“Signs of disease are objective, whereas symptoms are subjective.”
“The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.”
“I gave them a thumbs-up sign.”
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Sign (noun)
Physical evidence left by an animal.
“The hunters found deer sign at the end of the trail.”
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Sign (noun)
A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
“The sign in the window advertised a room for rent.”
“I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.”
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Sign (noun)
A wonder; miracle; prodigy.
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Sign (noun)
An astrological sign.
“Your sign is Taurus? That’s no surprise.”
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Sign (noun)
Positive or negative polarity. (Note: it is improper to place a sign on the number zero)
“I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.”
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Sign (noun)
A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.
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Sign (noun)
Sign language in general.
“Sorry, I don’t know sign very well.”
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Sign (noun)
An omen.
“”It’s a sign of the end of the world,” the doom prophet said.”
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Sign (noun)
A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, is unlikely to be noticed by the patient.
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Sign (noun)
A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.
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Sign (verb)
To make a mark
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Sign (verb)
To seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol. from 13th c.
“The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.”
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Sign (verb)
To mark, to put or leave a mark on. from 14th c.
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Sign (verb)
To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one’s signature on it. from 15th c.
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Sign (verb)
More generally, to write one’s signature on (something) as a means of identification etc. from 15th c.
“I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.”
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Sign (verb)
To write (one’s name) as a signature. from 16th c.
“Just sign your name at the bottom there.”
“I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.”
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Sign (verb)
To write one’s signature. from 17th c.
“Please sign on the dotted line.”
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Sign (verb)
To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc. from 19th c.
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Sign (verb)
To make the sign of the cross
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Sign (verb)
To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract. from 19th c.
“It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.”
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Sign (verb)
To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross. from 14th c.
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Sign (verb)
To indicate
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Sign (verb)
To cross oneself. from 15th c.
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Sign (verb)
To communicate using a gesture or signal. from 16th c.
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Sign (verb)
To communicate using gestures to (someone). from 16th c.
“He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.”
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Sign (verb)
To use sign language. from 19th c.
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Sing (verb)
To produce musical or harmonious sounds with one’s voice.
“”I really want to sing in the school choir,” said Vera.”
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Sing (verb)
To express audibly by means of a harmonious vocalization.
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Sing (verb)
To soothe with singing.
“to sing somebody to sleep”
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Sing (verb)
To confess under interrogation.
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Sing (verb)
To make a small, shrill sound.
“The air sings in passing through a crevice.”
“a singing kettle”
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Sing (verb)
To relate in verse; to celebrate in poetry.
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Sing (verb)
To display fine qualities; to stand out as excellent.
“The sauce really makes this lamb sing.”
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Sing (verb)
To be capable of being sung; to produce a certain effect by being sung.
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Sing (noun)
A gathering at which people sing songs.
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Sign (noun)
an object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else
“the shops are full, which is a sign that the recession is past its worst”
“flowers are often given as a sign of affection”
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Sign (noun)
something regarded as an indication of what is happening or going to happen
“the signs are that counterfeiting is growing at an alarming rate”
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Sign (noun)
used to indicate that someone or something is not where they should be or are expected to be
“there was still no sign of her”
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Sign (noun)
an indication of a disease detectable by a medical practitioner even if not apparent to the patient
“clinical signs of liver disease”
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Sign (noun)
a miracle regarded as evidence of supernatural power (chiefly in biblical and literary use)
“he observed signs and miracles taking place”
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Sign (noun)
the trail of a wild animal
“wolverine sign”
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Sign (noun)
a gesture or action used to convey information or an instruction
“she gave him the thumbs-up sign”
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Sign (noun)
an action or reaction that conveys something about someone
“she gave no sign of having seen him”
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Sign (noun)
a gesture used in a system of sign language.
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Sign (noun)
short for sign language
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Sign (noun)
a symbol or word used to represent an operation, instruction, concept, or object in algebra, music, or other subjects
“the integral sign ∫”
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Sign (noun)
a word or gesture given according to prior arrangement as a means of identification; a password.
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Sign (noun)
a notice on public display that gives information or instructions in a written or symbolic form
“I didn’t see the ‘Stop’ sign”
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Sign (noun)
each of the twelve equal sections into which the zodiac is divided, named from the constellations formerly situated in each, and associated with successive periods of the year according to the position of the sun on the ecliptic
“a person born under the sign of Virgo”
“a sign of the Zodiac”
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Sign (noun)
the positiveness or negativeness of a quantity
“the last four bits hold a pattern to represent the sign of the number”
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Sign (verb)
write one’s name on (a letter, card, document, etc.) to identify oneself as the writer or sender
“the card was signed by the whole class”
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Sign (verb)
authorize (a document or other written or printed material) by attaching a signature
“the two countries signed a non-aggression treaty”
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Sign (verb)
write (one’s name) for purposes of identification or authorization
“she signed her name in the book”
“she signed herself Imogen”
“he signed on the dotted line”
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Sign (verb)
engage (someone, typically a sports player or a musician) to work for one by signing a contract with them
“the manager plans to sign a new goalkeeper”
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Sign (verb)
commit oneself to work by signing a contract
“a new striker has signed for Blackburn”
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Sign (verb)
use gestures to convey information or instructions
“she signed to her husband to leave the room”
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Sign (verb)
communicate in sign language
“she was learning to sign”
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Sign (verb)
express or perform (something) in sign language
“the theatre routinely puts on signed performances”
“the Deaf Association Choir signed the hymns”
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Sign (verb)
indicate with signposts or other markers
“the footpath is signed by the gate”
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Sign (verb)
mark or consecrate with the sign of the cross
“he signed himself with the cross”
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Sing (verb)
make musical sounds with the voice, especially words with a set tune
“Bella sang to the baby”
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Sing (verb)
perform (a song, words, or tune) by making musical sounds with the voice
“I asked her to sing some carols”
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Sing (verb)
sing in accompaniment to a song or piece of music
“we sing along to all the songs”
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Sing (verb)
call something out loudly
“he sang out a greeting”
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Sing (verb)
(of a bird) make characteristic melodious whistling and twittering sounds
“the birds were singing in the trees”
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Sing (verb)
make a high-pitched whistling or buzzing sound
“the kettle was beginning to sing”
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Sing (verb)
(of a person’s ear) be affected with a continuous buzzing sound, especially as the after-effect of a blow or loud noise
“a stinging slap that made my ear sing”
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Sing (verb)
act as an informer to the police
“as soon as he got put under pressure, he sang like a canary”
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Sing (verb)
recount or celebrate in poetry or other literature
“poetry should sing the variety of the human race”
“these poets sing of the American experience”
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Sing (verb)
compose poetry
“he knew Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme”
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Sing (noun)
an act or spell of singing
“we asked him to come back and have a bit of a sing”
“a sponsored sing to pay for the theatre”
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Sing (noun)
a meeting for amateur singing.