saɪn n. & v. --n. 1 a a
thing indicating or suggesting a
quality or
state etc.; a thing perceived as indicating a
future state or
occurrence (violence is a sign of
weakness; shows
all the signs of decay). b a
miracle evidencing
supernatural power; a
portent (did signs
and wonders). 2 a a mark,
symbol, or
device used to
represent something or to
distinguish the thing on
which it is put (marked the jar
with a sign). b a
technical symbol used in
algebra,
music, etc. (a
minus sign; a
repeat sign). 3 a
gesture or
action used to
convey information, an
order,
request, etc. (gave
him a sign to leave; conversed by signs). 4 a publicly displayed
board etc. giving information; a
signboard or
signpost. 5
any objective evidence of a
disease, usu. specified (Babinski's sign). 6 a
password (advanced and
gave the sign). 7 any of the
twelve divisions of the
zodiac, named
from the constellations
formerly situated in
them (the sign of Cancer). 8 US the
trail of a
wild animal. 9
Math. etc. the positiveness or negativeness of a
quantity. --v. 1 tr. a (also absol.)
write (one's
name, initials, etc.) on a
document etc. indicating
that one has authorized
it. b write one's name etc. on (a document) as authorization. 2 intr. & tr.
communicate by gesture (signed to me to
come; signed
their assent). 3 tr. & intr.
engage or be
engaged by
signing a
contract etc. (see
also sign
on, sign up). 4 tr. mark with a sign (esp. with the sign of the
cross in baptism). ømake no sign
seem unconscious;
not protest. sign and
countersign secret words etc. used as passwords. sign
away convey (one's
right,
property, etc.) by signing a
deed etc. sign
for acknowledge receipt of by signing. sign
language a
system of
communication by
visual gestures, used
esp. by the
deaf. sign of the cross a
Christian sign
made in
blessing or prayer, by
tracing a cross from the
forehead to the
chest and to
each shoulder, or in the
air. sign
off 1
end work, broadcasting, a
letter, etc., esp. by
writing or
speaking one's name. 2 a end a
period of
employment, contract, etc. b end the period of employment or contract of (a person). 3
Brit.
stop receiving
unemployment benefit after finding work. 4 Bridge
indicate by a
conventional bid that one is seeking to end the
bidding. sign-off n. Bridge
such a bid. sign of the times a portent etc.
showing a
likely trend. sign on 1
agree to a contract, employment, etc. 2
begin work, broadcasting, etc., esp. by writing or announcing one's name. 3
employ (a person). 4 Brit.
register as
unemployed. sign-painter (or -writer) a
person who paints signboards etc. sign up 1 engage or employ (a person). 2
enlist in the armed forces. 3 a
commit (another person or oneself) by signing etc. (signed
you up for dinner). b
enrol (signed up for
evening classes). øøsignable adj. signer n. [ME f. OF signe, signer f. L signum, signare]