Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - sign

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English ~e, from Anglo-French, from Latin ~um mark, token, ~, 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. ~al 2a  c. a fundamental linguistic unit that de~ates an object or relation or has a purely syntactic function ~s include words, morphemes, and punctuation  d. one of a set of gestures used to represent language; also ~ 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. ~board  6.  a. something material or external that stands for or ~ifies something spiritual  b. something indicating the presence or existence of something else ~s of success a ~ of the times  c. presage, portent ~s of an early spring  d. an objective evidence of plant or animal disease  7. plural usually ~ traces of a usually wild animal red fox ~ Synonyms:  ~, mark, token, note, symptom mean a discernible indication of what is not itself directly perceptible. ~ applies to any indication to be perceived by the senses or the reason encouraging ~s 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.  II. verb  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ~er, from Latin ~are to mark, ~, seal, from ~um  Date: 13th century  transitive verb  1.  a. cross 2  b. to place a ~ on or mark by ~s ~ a trail  c. to represent or indicate by a ~  2.  a. to affix a ~ature to ; ratify or attest by hand or seal ~ a bill into law ~ a confession  b. to as~ or convey formally ~ed over his property to his brother  c. to write down (one's name)  d. to affix one's name to a ~ed review  3. to communicate by making a ~ or by ~ language  4. to engage or hire by securing the ~ature of on a contract of employment — often used with up or on  intransitive verb  1. to write one's name in token of assent, responsibility, or obligation ~ed for the packages ~ed with the team for one season  2.  a. to make a ~ or ~al  b. to use ~ language  • ~ee noun  • ~er noun