Join free

sign

AI In plain words

Writing a short explanation…

Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

sign¹

  • /saɪn/ Canada, US, UK
  • /sɑe̯n/ Australia
  • [sɑe̯n] New Zealand

Sounds like sine, syne · Rhymes with -aɪn

Where it comes from

From Middle English signe, sygne, syng, seine, sine, syne, from Old English seġn (“sign; mark; token”) and Old French signe, seing (“sign; mark; signature”); both from Latin signum (“a mark; sign; token”); root uncertain. Doublet of signum and signal. Partially displaced native token.

noun signs

  1. countable, uncountable A visible fact that shows that something exists or may happen. Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn't want to talk.
  2. countable, uncountable An omen. "It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.
  3. countable, uncountable A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, can be detected objectively by someone other than the patient. Signs of disease are objective, whereas symptoms are subjective.
  4. countable, uncountable A mark or another symbol used to represent something. The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.
  5. Australia, Canada, US, uncountable Physical evidence left by an animal. The hunters found deer sign at the end of the trail.
  6. countable, uncountable A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures. The sign in the window advertised a room for rent.
  7. countable, uncountable A wonder; miracle; prodigy. And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
  8. countable, uncountable An astrological sign. Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.
  9. countable, uncountable Positive or negative polarity, as denoted by the + or - sign. I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.
  10. countable, uncountable A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages. And why not, as well as our dumbe men dispute, argue and tell histories by signes?
  11. uncountable Sign language in general. Sorry, I don't know sign very well.
  12. countable, uncountable A semantic unit, something that conveys meaning or information (e.g. a word of written language); (linguistics, semiotics) a unit consisting of a signifier and a signified concept. (See sign (semiotics).) A Noun substantive and a Noun adjective may be thus distinguished, that a substantive may have the sign a or the before it; as, puer, a boy, the boy; but an adjective cannot, as, bonus, good.
  13. countable, uncountable A military emblem carried on a banner or standard. The great Ensign of Messiah blaz'd Aloft by Angels born, his Sign in Heav'n.

sign²

  • /saɪn/ Canada, US, UK
  • /sɑe̯n/ Australia
  • [sɑe̯n] New Zealand

Sounds like sine, syne · Rhymes with -aɪn

Where it comes from

From Middle English signen, seinen, seinien, partly from Old English seġnian (“to mark; sign”) and partly from Anglo-Norman seigner, seiner et al., Old French signer et al., and their source Latin signāre (“to mark, seal, indicate, signify”); all from Latin signum (“a mark, sign”); see Etymology 1, above. Compare sain.

verb signs · signing · signed · sign

  1. archaic, transitive To seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol. The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.
  2. transitive To mark, to put or leave a mark on. Meantime revolving in his thoughtful mind / The scar, with which his manly knee was sign'd […].
  3. transitive To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it. Enquire the Iewes house out, giue him this deed, / And let him signe it […].
  4. transitive More generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc. I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
  5. reflexive, transitive To write (one's name) as a signature. Just sign your name at the bottom there.
  6. intransitive To write one's signature. Please sign on the dotted line.
  7. intransitive To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc. Agents say Wales back Gavin Henson has signed for Cardiff Blues.
  8. transitive To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract. It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
  9. transitive To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross. We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross.
  10. reflexive To cross oneself. Shaking a fist at him with one fierce arm, / Signing himself with the other because of Christ.
  11. intransitive To communicate using a gesture or signal. I signed to Brown to make his retreat.
  12. transitive To communicate or make known (a meaning, intention, etc.) by a sign. Pierre signed his acquiescence, and Isabel proceeded:
  13. transitive To communicate using gestures to (someone). He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.
  14. intransitive To use sign language.
  15. transitive To furnish (a road etc.) with signs.
  16. To determine the sign of
  17. transitive To calculate or derive whether a quantity has a positive or negative sign.

Talk about this word