INDEX:
sign/symbol
1. a written sign that gives instructions or information
2. a picture or shape that has a particular meaning
sign/gesture
3. a movement or sound that you make to tell someone something
4. to make a movement or sound to tell someone something
sign/indication
5. something that shows what is true or what is happening
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ SAY
↑ TELL
↑ SHOW
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1. a written sign that gives instructions or information
▷ sign /saɪn/ [countable noun]
▪ There was a big sign above the entrance.
▪ A neon sign flashed on and off in the window.
▪ Didn’t you see the ‘No smoking’ sign?
▪ Turn left and then follow the signs till you get to the freeway.
traffic/road sign
a sign that gives information to drivers
▪ Out in the desert there are hardly any road signs along the highway.
▷ notice /ˈnəʊtɪs, ˈnəʊtəs/ [countable noun] especially British
a piece of paper giving instructions or information, that is put in a place where people can see it :
▪ The details of the trip are on that notice over there.
put up a notice
▪ I’ll put up a notice about the meeting on the bulletin board.
take down a notice
▪ Now that the sale is over someone needs to take down the notices.
▷ poster /ˈpəʊstəʳ/ [countable noun]
a large printed piece of paper that is put on a wall in a public place, and that gives information about something that is going to happen, for example a film or concert :
▪ Sandra collects old movie posters.
▪ Ernst’s supporters have plastered his election posters over walls and cars.
poster for
▪ There are posters for the Van Gogh exhibition everywhere.
2. a picture or shape that has a particular meaning
▷ sign /saɪn/ [countable noun]
a picture or shape that has a particular meaning, and that is well known and often used :
▪ You’ve forgotten to put the dollar sign before the total amount.
▪ Where’s the percentage sign on this keyboard?
▷ symbol /ˈsɪmb ə l/ [countable noun]
a picture, shape, or design that has a particular meaning or represents an idea :
▪ The walls were covered with magical symbols.
▪ For several years Prince used a symbol instead of his name.
symbol of
▪ The dove is a symbol of peace.
symbol for
▪ The ancient Egyptians had no symbol for ‘zero.’
▷ logo /ˈləʊgəʊ/ [countable noun]
a sign that has been designed to represent an organization or product :
▪ The baseball team has a new logo.
▪ His costume had the Superman logo across the chest.
▪ You can buy bags with the company logo on them in the gift shop.
▷ emblem /ˈembləm/ [countable noun]
a picture of an object, flower, animal etc that is used to represent a country or organization :
▪ Scotland’s emblem is the thistle.
▪ The jacket had a tiny Olympic emblem on the pocket.
emblem of
▪ The hammer and sickle is the emblem of the Communist Party.
▷ insignia /ɪnˈsɪgniə/ [plural noun]
shapes, pictures, decorations etc that represent a powerful group, especially a military organization :
▪ Someone had spray-painted gang insignia on his car.
▪ They collect clothing with FBI insignia on it so they can pretend to be federal agents.
3. a movement or sound that you make to tell someone something
▷ sign /saɪn/ [countable noun]
a movement that you make in order to tell someone something :
▪ He raised his hand in a sign of greeting.
sign (that)
▪ Mardas threw his hands in the air - a sign to his supporters that victory was theirs.
sign for somebody to do something
▪ When the teacher puts her finger to her lips, it’s a sign for you all to be quiet.
▷ signal /ˈsɪgn ə l/ [countable noun]
a sound or movement that you make in order to tell someone to do something :
give a signal
▪ Don’t start yet - wait until I give the signal.
signal to do something
▪ The soldiers were waiting for the signal to start firing.
signal for somebody to do something
▪ When I nod my head, that’s the signal for you to start playing the music.
hand signals
▪ Stock brokers use roughly 300 hand signals on the trading floor.
▷ gesture /ˈdʒestʃəʳ/ [countable noun]
a movement of your hands, arms, or head that shows how you feel, especially when you are very worried or angry :
gesture of
▪ Jim raised his hands in a gesture of despair.
make a gesture
▪ Someone in another car started making gestures and pointing at our tires.
make a rude gesture
▪ The fight started when one of the fans made a rude gesture at a player.
▷ nod /nɒdǁnɑːd/ [countable noun]
a slight downward movement you make with your head to say ‘yes’ to something or to say that something can begin :
▪ I asked if he was hungry, and he responded with a nod.
give (somebody) a nod
▪ Daniels gave a slight nod, and Bill started to speak.
4. to make a movement or sound to tell someone something
▷ make a sign /ˌmeɪk ə ˈsaɪn/ [verb phrase]
to make a movement, especially with your hand, in order to tell someone something :
▪ I’ll make a sign when I’m ready.
▪ The President made a sign to indicate that he wanted to leave.
make a sign (that)
▪ From across the room Marla made a sign that she had seen me come in.
▷ signal /ˈsɪgn ə l/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to make a movement or sound in order to give instructions or information :
▪ A sailor began signalling with two flags.
signal to
▪ Graham finished his drink and signalled to the waiter.
signal that
▪ An official signalled that it was time for the race to begin.
signal somebody to do something
▪ Slowly he inched around the corner, signalling for the others to follow.
▷ give the signal /ˌgɪv ðə ˈsɪgn ə l/ [verb phrase]
to make a previously agreed sign that tells someone that they should start doing something :
▪ When I give the signal, I want you all to start clapping.
give (somebody) the signal to do something
▪ The dog waited patiently until his master gave him the signal to eat.
▷ wave /weɪv/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to move your hand or arm from one side to the other, for example in order to get someone’s attention or to tell them something :
▪ She continued to wave as the car drove out of sight.
wave at
▪ Who’s that waving at you?
wave to
▪ The emperor waved to the crowd from the palace balcony.
wave for somebody to do something
▪ Yolanda waved for us to come over.
wave somebody through/on
wave to show someone that they can go through or continue their journey
▪ The customs officer at the border waved us through.
wave goodbye
wave to someone who is leaving
▪ Her parents stood in the doorway and waved goodbye.
wave [countable noun]
give somebody a wave
wave at someone in order to say hello or goodbye
▪ I gave him a friendly wave.
▷ wink /wɪŋk/ [intransitive verb]
to quickly close and open one eye, in order to show that you are joking or that you share a secret with someone :
▪ Ben grinned at his father and winked.
wink at
▪ ‘The weather’s so nice, I’m thinking of calling in sick tomorrow,’ she said, winking at me.
wink [countable noun]
when you close and open one eye quickly :
▪ ‘Don’t worry,’ he said with a wink. ‘I won’t tell anyone about this.’
▷ nod/nod your head /nɒd, ˌnɒd jɔːʳ ˈhedǁˌnɑːd-/ [verb phrase]
to make a slight downward movement with your head to say ‘yes’ or ‘hello’ or to say that something can begin :
▪ Rob nodded his head in agreement.
▪ ‘Has he really left you?’ I asked. Josie nodded miserably.
nod/nod your head at/to
▪ The two men nodded to each other, as if they’d met before.
nod/nod your head for somebody to do something
▪ She nodded for Mike to lead the way.
▷ gesture /ˈdʒestʃəʳ/ [intransitive verb]
to use a movement of your hand, especially to tell someone to go to a place or to emphasize your meaning when you are saying something :
▪ The man was gesturing wildly, but we couldn’t understand what he wanted.
gesture to/at
▪ ‘Please sit down,’ said Winters, gesturing at the chair facing his own.
gesture to
▪ Celia began listing their recent purchases and gestured proudly to the fountain.
gesture for somebody to do something
▪ I turned to see a large policeman gesturing for us to move along.
▷ motion /ˈməʊʃ ə n/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to use a short movement of your arm or hand to tell someone what to do or where to go :
motion to
▪ Neil finished his meal, and then motioned to the waitress.
motion for somebody to do something
▪ Seeing Bert in the doorway, I motioned for him to come in.
motion somebody to do something
▪ Kemp started to object, but I motioned him to be quiet.
▷ beckon /ˈbekən/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to use a movement of your finger or head to tell someone to come towards you :
▪ She beckoned and he came running immediately.
▪ He was leaning over the wall, beckoning me.
beckon to
▪ Jan beckoned to me, but I knew better than to sit next to her.
beckon somebody in/over/to etc
▪ ‘Come and look at this,’ he said, beckoning me over to the window.
5. something that shows what is true or what is happening
▷ sign /saɪn/ [countable noun]
an event or fact that shows that something is true or that something is happening :
▪ Therapy should begin when the first signs are noticed.
sign of
▪ Stan has some of the early signs of heart disease.
▪ Police searched the house thoroughly but found no signs of a break-in.
sign (that)
▪ A score of 80 or more is a sign that you are doing very well.
be a sure sign (of/that)
show that something is definitely true
▪ When Emma offers to help you it’s a sure sign that she wants something from you!
a good/hopeful/encouraging sign
a sign that things are improving
▪ The rise in consumer spending is an encouraging sign that the economy may be recovering.
▷ indication /ˌɪndɪˈkeɪʃ ə n, ˌɪndəˈkeɪʃ ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
something, especially someone’s behaviour or what they say, that makes you believe that something is probably happening or has probably happened :
indication of
▪ There was no indication of forced entry to the building.
indication (that)
▪ There are indications that the Labour Party will win the next election.
give no/any/a good indication of something
▪ If she knew what was going on outside, she gave no indication of it.
▪ The daily pollen count can give a good indication of the amount of allergens in the air.
give/show every indication of (doing) something
▪ The two parties have shown every indication of a willingness to compromise.
▷ evidence /ˈevɪd ə ns, ˈevəd ə ns/ [uncountable noun]
facts, objects etc that show that something exists or is true :
▪ Without any evidence we cannot prove that she was involved in murder.
evidence of
▪ People have been looking for evidence of life on other planets for years.
evidence that
▪ We can find no evidence that he ever worked for the company.
visible evidence
▪ There was no visible evidence that humans had ever lived in this valley.
▷ symptom /ˈsɪmptəm/ [countable noun]
a sign that someone has an illness or that a serious problem exists :
▪ First the doctor asked me to describe my symptoms.
symptom of
▪ The first symptoms of hepatitis are tiredness, vomiting, and loss of weight.
▪ In his speech the Bishop labelled these crimes as a symptom of society’s moral decline.
▷ trace /treɪs/ [countable noun]
a very small sign that a particular situation exists or is true :
trace of
▪ The thief was careful not to leave any trace of his activities.
▪ Many local people were very eager to get rid of the last traces of their town’s shameful past.
with/without a trace of something
▪ Hans speaks English beautifully, without a trace of a foreign accent.
▷ manifestation /ˌmænɪfeˈsteɪʃ ə n, ˌmænəfeˈsteɪʃ ə nǁ-fə-/ [countable noun] formal
a very clear sign that a particular situation or feeling exists :
manifestation of
▪ This latest outbreak of violence is a clear manifestation of discontent in the city.
▪ Some men feel that showing their emotions is a manifestation of weakness.
▷ omen /ˈəʊmən/ [countable noun]
something that happens which you think is a sign that something good or bad is going to happen in the future :
▪ Do you think the rain is some kind of omen?
bad omen
▪ George thought the car breaking down on the way to his wedding was a bad omen.
good omen
▪ ‘Maybe this is a good omen,’ said Jill, seeing a blue sky for the first time in weeks.
▷ telltale /ˈtelteɪl/ [adjective only before noun]
tell-tale signs/marks/symptoms etc
signs that something is happening that are not very easy to notice, unless you know exactly what to look for :
▪ In his face you could see the first tell-tale signs of alcoholism.
▪ Teachers are encouraged to look for telltale signs of abuse among their students.
▷ be a giveaway /biː ə ˈgɪvəweɪ/ [verb phrase]
if you say that something is a giveaway, you mean it clearly shows you the real truth about something, rather than what someone would like you to believe :
▪ Those fake beams are a giveaway - it isn’t really an old pub.
be a dead giveaway
show very clearly
▪ That nervous twitching was always a dead giveaway that he’d done something wrong.