English adjective: sign | |||
1. | sign used of the language of the deaf | ||
Synonyms | gestural, sign-language, signed | ||
Similar | communicative, communicatory | ||
Antonyms | incommunicative, uncommunicative | ||
English noun: sign | |||
1. | sign (communication) a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened) | ||
Samples | He showed signs of strain. They welcomed the signs of spring. | ||
Synonyms | mark | ||
Broader (hypernym) | clew, clue, cue | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | token | ||
2. | sign (communication) a public display of a message | ||
Samples | He posted signs in all the shop windows. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | communication | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | bill, card, guidepost, notice, placard, poster, posting, signpost, street sign | ||
3. | sign (communication) any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message | ||
Samples | Signals from the boat suddenly stopped. | ||
Synonyms | signal, signaling | ||
Broader (hypernym) | communication | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | alarm, alarum, alert, all clear, animal communication, beam, bugle call, curfew, distress call, distress signal, dog-ear, drumbeat, electronic signal, high sign, indicator, input, input signal, number, output, output signal, phone number, radio beacon, radio beam, radiotelegraphic signal, recording, retreat, start, starting signal, storm signal, symbol, telegraphic signal, telephone number, ticktack, time signal, visual signal, warning signal, whistle, whistling | ||
4. | sign (artifact) structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted | ||
Samples | The highway was lined with signboards. | ||
Synonyms | signboard | ||
Broader (hypernym) | construction, structure | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | billboard, hoarding, sandwich board, scoreboard, shingle | ||
5. | sign (location) (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided | ||
Synonyms | house, mansion, planetary house, sign of the zodiac, star sign | ||
Broader (hypernym) | part, region | ||
Instance hyponym | Aquarius, Aquarius the Water Bearer, Archer, Aries, Aries the Ram, Balance, Bull, Cancer, Cancer the Crab, Capricorn, Capricorn the Goat, Crab, Fish, Gemini, Gemini the Twins, Goat, Leo, Leo the Lion, Libra, Libra the Balance, Libra the Scales, Lion, Pisces, Pisces the Fishes, Ram, Sagittarius, Sagittarius the Archer, Scorpio, Scorpio the Scorpion, Scorpion, Taurus, Taurus the Bull, Twins, Virgin, Virgo, Virgo the Virgin, Water Bearer | ||
Part meronym | zodiac | ||
Domain category | astrology, star divination | ||
6. | sign (state) (medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease | ||
Samples | There were no signs of asphyxiation. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | evidence, grounds | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | vital sign | ||
Part meronym | disease | ||
Domain category | medical specialty, medicine | ||
7. | sign having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges) | ||
Samples | He got the polarity of the battery reversed. Charges of opposite sign. | ||
Synonyms | polarity | ||
Broader (hypernym) | oppositeness, opposition | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | negativeness, negativity, positiveness, positivity | ||
8. | sign (event) an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come | ||
Samples | He hoped it was an augury. It was a sign from God. | ||
Synonyms | augury, foretoken, preindication | ||
Broader (hypernym) | experience | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | omen, portent, presage, prodigy, prognostic, prognostication, war cloud | ||
9. | sign (communication) a gesture that is part of a sign language | ||
Broader (hypernym) | gesture, motion | ||
Part meronym | sign language, signing | ||
10. | sign (communication) a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified | ||
Samples | The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | language unit, linguistic unit | ||
Domain category | linguistics | ||
11. | sign (communication) a character indicating a relation between quantities | ||
Samples | Don't forget the minus sign. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | mathematical notation | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | equal sign, minus sign, plus sign, radical sign | ||
English verb: sign | |||
1. | sign (communication) mark with one's signature; write one's name (on) | ||
Samples | She signed the letter and sent it off. Please sign here. | ||
Synonyms | subscribe | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | write | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | rubricate | ||
2. | sign (social) approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation | ||
Samples | All parties ratified the peace treaty. Have you signed your contract yet?. | ||
Synonyms | ratify | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | formalise, formalize, validate | ||
Entail | endorse, indorse | ||
3. | sign (communication) be engaged by a written agreement | ||
Samples | He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18. The soprano signed to sing the new opera. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE | ||
Broader (hypernym) | contract, undertake | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | autograph, countersign, endorse, execute, indorse, initial, ink, inscribe, undersign | ||
4. | sign (social) engage by written agreement | ||
Samples | They signed two new pitchers for the next season. | ||
Synonyms | contract, sign on, sign up | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | employ, engage, hire | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | contract out | ||
5. | sign (communication) communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs | ||
Samples | He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture. The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu. | ||
Examples | They sign them the information, They sign the information to them | ||
Synonyms | signal, signalise, signalize | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | communicate, intercommunicate | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | flag, heliograph, semaphore, whistle, wigwag | ||
6. | sign (contact) place signs, as along a road | ||
Samples | Sign an intersection. This road has been signed. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | lay, place, pose, position, put, set | ||
7. | sign (communication) communicate in sign language | ||
Samples | I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s that CLAUSE | ||
Broader (hypernym) | communicate, intercommunicate | ||
8. | sign (communication) make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate | ||
Synonyms | bless | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | gesticulate, gesture, motion | ||