[sig.na.ture] n [MF or ML; MF, fr. ML signatura, fr. L signatus, pp. of signare to sign, seal] (1536) 1 a: the act of signing one's name b: the name of a person written with his or her own hand
2: a feature in the appearance or qualities of a natural object formerly held to indicate its utility in medicine 3 a: a letter or figure placed usu. at the bottom of the first page on each sheet of printed pages (as of a book) as a direction to the binder in arranging and gathering the sheets b: a folded sheet that is one unit of a book
4. a: key signature b: time signature
5: the part of a medical prescription that contains the directions to the patient
6: something (as a tune, style, or logo) that serves to identify; also: a characteristic mark