— signless , adj. — signlike , adj.
/suyn/ , n.
1. a token; indication.
2. any object, action, event, pattern, etc., that conveys a meaning.
3. a conventional or arbitrary mark, figure, or symbol used as an abbreviation for the word or words it represents.
4. a motion or gesture used to express or convey an idea, command, decision, etc.: Her nod was a sign that it was time to leave.
5. a notice, bearing a name, direction, warning, or advertisement, that is displayed or posted for public view: a traffic sign; a store sign.
6. a trace; vestige: There wasn't a sign of them.
7. an arbitrary or conventional symbol used in musical notation to indicate tonality, tempo, etc.
8. Med. the objective indications of a disease.
9. any meaningful gestural unit belonging to a sign language.
10. an omen; portent: a sign of approaching decadence.
11. See sign of the zodiac .
12. See sign language (def. 1).
13. Usually, signs . traces, as footprints, of a wild animal.
14. Math.
a. a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating addition or subtraction.
b. a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating the positive or negative value of a quantity, as an integer.
c. See multiplication sign .
d. See division sign .
e. a symbol, as !, used to indicate a factorial operation.
v.t.
15. to affix a signature to: to sign a letter.
16. to write as a signature: to sign one's name.
17. to engage by written agreement: to sign a new player.
18. to mark with a sign, esp. the sign of the cross.
19. to communicate by means of a sign; signal: He signed his wish to leave.
20. to convey (a message) in a sign language.
21. Obs. to direct or appoint by a sign.
v.i.
22. to write one's signature, as a token of agreement, obligation, receipt, etc.: to sign for a package.
23. to make a sign or signal: He signed to her to go away.
24. to employ a sign language for communication.
25. to obligate oneself by signature: He signed with another team for the next season.
26. sign away or over , to assign or dispose of by affixing one's signature to a document: She signed over her fortune to the church.
27. sign in (or out ) to record or authorize one's arrival (or departure) by signing a register.
28. sign off ,
a. to withdraw, as from some responsibility or connection.
b. to cease radio or television broadcasting, esp. at the end of the day.
c. Informal. to become silent: He had exhausted conversation topics and signed off.
d. to indicate one's approval explicitly if not formally: The president is expected to sign off on the new agreement.
29. sign on ,
a. to employ; hire.
b. to bind oneself to work, as by signing a contract: He signed on as a pitcher with a major-league team.
c. to start radio or television broadcasting, esp. at the beginning of the day.
d. Computers. log 1 (def. 17a).
30. sign up , to enlist, as in an organization or group; to register or subscribe: to sign up for the navy; to sign up for class.
[ 1175-1225; (n.) ME signe signum mark, sign, ensign, signal, image; (v.) ME signen to mark with a sign, esp. the sign of the cross signer signare to mark with a sign, inscribe, affix a seal to, deriv. of signum ]
Syn. 1. trace, hint, suggestion. 1, 4 . signal. 10. indication, hint, augury. SIGN, OMEN, PORTENT name that which gives evidence of a future event. SIGN is a general word for whatever gives evidence of an event - past, present, or future: Dark clouds are a sign of rain or snow. An OMEN is an augury or warning of things to come; it is used only of the future, in general, as good or bad: birds of evil omen. PORTENT, limited, like OMEN, to prophecy of the future, may be used of a specific event, usually a misfortune: portents of war.