English

Pronunciation

Homophones

• sine

Etymology

From Latin signum , sign

Noun

sign (plural: signs)

1. (sometimes also used uncountably) A visible indication.

   Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn't want to talk.

   Those clouds show signs of raining soon.

   Those clouds show little sign of raining soon.

2. A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.

   The sign in the window said "for rent".

3. A traffic sign .

   I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.

4. A meaningful gesture.

   I gave them a thumbs-up sign.

5. Any of several specialized non-alphabetic symbols.

   The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.

6. An astrological sign .

   Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.

7. (mathematics) Positive or negative polarity.

   I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.

8. A linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.

Translations

• Finnish: merkki (1, 4, 5, 6, 7), osoitus (1), kyltti (2), kilpi (2), liikennemerkki (3), ele (4), viittoma (8)

Related terms

• astrological sign
• high sign
• plus sign
• minus sign
• neon sign
• road sign
• sign language
• signs of life
• signage
• signatory
• signature
• star sign
• street sign
• traffic sign

Transitive verb

to sign (signs, signed, signing)

1. To write one's signature on a document, thus showing authorship.

   I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.

2. To give legal consent by writing one's signature.

   I'm not signing anything without my lawyer present.

3. Persuade to sign a contract.

   It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.

Translations

• Finnish: allekirjoittaa (1, 2), rekrytoida (3)

Intransitive verb

to sign (signs, signed, signing)

1. To write one's signature.

   Please sign on the dotted line.

2. (colloquial) To give autographs.

   I'm sorry, I don't sign.

3. To communicate using sign language.

   I'm learning to sign so I can talk to my new neighbor.

Translations

• Finnish: allekirjoittaa (1), kirjoittaa nimi (1), antaa allekirjoitus (2), viittoa (3)

Related terms

• sign in
• sign off
• sign on
• sign over
• sign out
• sign up