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Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.1.1 Homophones 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Related terms 1.2.1.2 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Verb 1.3.1.1 Derived terms 1.3.1.2 Related terms 1.3.1.3 Translations

[ English

[ Pronunciation

• IPA: /saɪn/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -aɪn

[ Homophones

• sine

[ Etymology 1

From Old French signe, 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.

   What's the sign for "computer"?

9. (uncountable) sign language in general

   Sorry, I don't know sign very well.

10. An omen.

    "It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.

[ 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 vital signs

[ Translations

[ Etymology 2

From Old French signer, from Latin signare.

[ Verb

to sign (third-person singular simple present signs, present participle signing, simple past and past participle signed)

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

   I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.

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

   I'm not signing anything without my lawyer present.

3. (transitive) To persuade to sign a contract.

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

4. (intransitive) To write one's signature somewhere.

   Please sign on thee dotted line.

5. (intransitive) (colloquial) To give autographs.

   I'm sorry, I don't sign.

6. (intransitive) To communicate using sign language.

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

[ Derived terms

• signal
• signature
• signet
• signify

[ Related terms

• sign in
• sign off
• sign on
• sign over
• sign out
• sign up
• sign one's life away / enlist

[ Translations