Dictionary definition for: Sign

1. (n) a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened) "he showed signs of strain" "they welcomed the signs of spring"

2. (v) mark with one''s signature; write one''s name (on) "She signed the letter and sent it off" "Please sign here"

3. (v) approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation; "All parties ratified the peace treaty" "Have you signed your contract yet?"

4. (n) a public display of a (usually written) message; "he posted signs in all the shop windows"

5. (v) be engaged by a written agreement; "He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18" "The soprano signed to sing the new opera"

6. (n) any communication that encodes a message; "signals from the boat suddenly stopped"

7. (v) engage by written agreement; "They signed two new pitchers for the next season"

8. (n) structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted; "the highway was lined with signboards"

9. (n) (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

10. (v) communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs; "He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture" "The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu"

11. (n) (medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease; "there were no signs of asphixiation"

12. (v) place signs, as along a road; "sign an intersection" "This road has been signed"

13. (n) having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges) "he got the polarity of the battery reversed" "charges of opposite sign"

14. (v) communicate in sign language; "I don''t know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin"

15. (n) an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come; "he hoped it was an augury" "it was a sign from God"

16. (v) make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate

17. (n) a gesture that is part of a sign language

18. (n) a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified; "The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary"--de Saussure

19. (n) a character indicating a relation between quantities; "don''t forget the minus sign"