|
sign
has definitions from the fields of law,physics,mathematics,linguistics,medicine,astronomy,religion,work,writing
|
|
| 1 |
[ noun ] a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
Synonyms Examples "he showed signs of strain" "they welcomed the signs of spring" Used in print (The Christian Science Monitor,...)Thereafter the audience waxed applause happy , but discriminating operagoers reserved judgment as her singing showed signs of strain , her musicianship some questionable procedure and her acting uncomfortable stylization . (E. Gellhorn, "Prolegomena to a theory of the emotions"...)A previously extinguished conditioned_reaction was restored in monkey A and was associated with typical signs of emotional excitement including sympathetic discharges . (Douglas Ashford, "Elections in Morocco: Progress...)All political interests supported electoral planning , although there are some signs that the inherent uncertainties of a popular judgment led to some procrastination . (Brand Blanshard, "The Emotive Theory," Robert...)There are signs that it has struggled for days to escape and that in a frenzy of hunger , pain , and fear , it has all_but eaten off its own leg . (Chester G. Starr, The Origins of Greek Civili...)The revolution was well under_way before 700 B.C. , and premonitory signs go_back virtually across the century . |
| 2 |
[ verb ] (writing) mark with one's signature; write one's name (on)
Synonyms Examples "She signed the letter and sent it off" "Please sign here" Used in print (Edwin L. Bigelow and Nancy H. Otis,...)The committee submitted a report signed by Louis_Martin and Leon_Wiley with a map published in the 1946 town report . (Clayton C. Barbeau, The Ikon....)They visited the shipyards at Brest and Pierre had_to sign the register , vouching for the integrity of the visiting foreigner . (Frieda Arkin, "The Light of the Sea," in The...)She signed the letters quickly , stamped them , and placed them on the hall table for Raphael to mail in town . (Whit Masterson, Evil Come, Evil Go....)It was signed by everyone in the troupe . |
| 3 |
[ verb ] (law) write one's name in token of assent, responsibility, or obligation
Synonyms Examples "All parties signed the peace treaty" "Have you signed your contract yet?" Used in print ([Anonymous,] "The Attack on Employee Services"...)Can you consider restricting any additional employee benefits to those paid for by profit-sharing money , such_as was done in the union contract recently signed by American_Motors_Corporation ? (Breni James, Nights of the Kill....)You can n't tell a customer how much it 's going_to cost him to refinance his payments before he even signs for a loan on the money down ! |
| 4 |
[ verb ] be engaged by a written agreement
Examples "He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18" "The soprano signed to sing the new opera" Used in print (The Atlanta Constitution...)Five per_cent of the voters in each county must sign petitions requesting that the Republicans be allowed to place names of candidates on the general_election ballot , or The Republicans must hold a primary under the county unit system - a system which the party opposes in its platform . (The Sun, [Baltimore],...)The big , 22 - year old shortstop , the 1960 American_league `` rookie of the year '' , flew here late this afternoon from Baltimore , signed his contract for an estimated $ 15000 and was a spectator at tonight 's 5 - to 3 loss to Kansas_City - the winless Birds ' sixth setback in_a_row . (Glayds H. Barr, The Master of Geneva....)Refugees poured in , signing the Confession and rules in_order to remain , and then disregarding them . (Whit Masterson, Evil Come, Evil Go....)I practically had to sign your life away , you 'll probably fire me for some of the deals I had to go_for , but '' - |
| 5 |
[ noun ] a public display of a (usually written) message
Examples "he posted signs in all the shop windows" Used in print (Richard I. McCosh, "Recreation Site Selection"...)The historical sign tells its story , but nothing gets interest across as well as some of the original historical items or places themselves which still have the character of the period covered . (Robert Penn Warren, Wilderness....)He saw the sign above the door of the hut : Home_Sweet_Home . Related terms communication scoreboard poster signpost traffic_sign street_sign |
| 6 |
[ noun ] any communication that encodes a message
Examples "signals from the boat suddenly stopped" Used in print (The Times-Picayune, [New Orleans]...)This manifestation may be an early sign of multiple_sclerosis or the beginning of sewer 's cramp . (E. Gellhorn, "Prolegomena to a theory of the emotions"...)Even when the intensity of the shocks was increased gradually , it failed to evoke any signs of pain . (Robert Penn Warren, Wilderness....)It would be a sign for the untellable , and he , Adam , would understand . Related terms communication symbol recording indication phone_number radio_beam input_signal indicator output_signal time_signal dog-ear storm_signal whistle visual_signal curfew retreat drumbeat telegraphic_signal animal_communication high_sign electronic_signal distress_signal alarm all_clear radio_beacon starting_signal ticktack bugle_call bespeak signalize bless signalize |
| 7 |
[ noun ] structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted
Synonyms Examples "the highway was lined with signboards" Used in print (Harold Rosenberg, "The Trial and Eichmann"...)The gruesome humor of the Nazis was not forgotten - the gas_chamber with a sign on it with the name of a Jewish foundation and bearing a copper Star_of_David - nor the gratuitous sadism of SS officers . Related terms |
| 8 |
[ noun ] (astronomy) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
Used in print (Norman Kent, "The Watercolor Art of Roy M. Mason"...)When I looked_up the actual date of his birth and found it to be March 15_th , I realized that Roy was_born under the right zodiacal sign for a watercolorist : the water sign of Pisces ( February 18 - March 20 ) . |
| 9 |
[ verb ] (work) engage by written agreement
Examples "They signed two new pitchers for the next season" Used in print (The New York Times,...)Van_Brocklin , the quarterback who led the Eagles to the title , was signed by the Vikings last Wednesday . The Eagles signed him for Shaw 's staff in 1959 . Related terms |
| 10 |
[ noun ] (physics) having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges)
Synonyms Examples "he got the polarity of the battery reversed" "charges of opposite sign" Used in print (Jay C. Harris and John R. Van Wazer, "Detergent...)Obviously , if colloidal particles bear charges of opposite sign or , if one kind is charged and the other kind is not , the attraction will be intensified and the tendency to agglomerate will be greatly reinforced . Related terms |
| 11 |
[ noun ] (medical) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease
Examples "there were no signs of asphixiation" Used in print (Doris Miles Disney, Mrs. Meeker's Money....)No signs of these , no gross hemorrhage of lungs , heart , brain or stomach '' . Related terms |
| 12 |
[ noun ] a gesture that is part of a sign language
Used in print (Octavia Waldo, A Cup of the Sun....)Her face showed no sign of having heard Pompeii . Related terms |
| 13 |
[ verb ] communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs
Examples "He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture" "The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu" Related terms communicate flag heliograph wigwag whistle semaphore signal signaler signer sign_language |
| 14 |
[ noun ] an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come
Synonyms Examples "he hoped it was an augury" "it was a sign from God" Related terms |
| 15 |
[ adjective ] used of the language of the deaf
Synonyms Related terms |
| 16 | |
| 17 |
[ noun ] (linguistics) a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified
Examples "The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary"--de Saussure Related terms |
| 18 |
[ verb ] (religion) make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate
Synonyms Related terms |
| 19 |
[ verb ] communicate in sign language
Examples "I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin" Related terms |
| 20 |
[ noun ] (mathematics) a character indicating a relation between quantities
Examples "don't forget the minus sign" Related terms |
| * |
|