sign (signs plural & 3rd person present) (signing present participle) (signed past tense & past participle )
1 n-count A sign is a mark or shape that always has a particular meaning, for example in mathematics or music.
Equations are generally written with a two-bar equals sign.
2 n-count A sign is a movement of your arms, hands, or head which is intended to have a particular meaning.
They gave Lavalle the thumbs-up sign..., The priest made the sign of the cross over him.
3 verb If you sign, you communicate with someone using sign language. If a programme or performance is signed, someone uses sign language so that deaf people can understand it.
All programmes will be either `signed' or subtitled... be V-ed, Also V, V n
4 n-count A sign is a piece of wood, metal, or plastic with words or pictures on it. Signs give you information about something, or give you a warning or an instruction.
...a sign saying that the highway was closed because of snow.
5 n-var If there is a signof something, there is something which shows that it exists or is happening.
usu with supp, oft N of n
They are prepared to hand back a hundred prisoners of war a day as a sign of good will..., Your blood would have been checked for any sign of kidney failure.
6 verb When you sign a document, you write your name on it, usually at the end or in a special space. You do this to indicate that you have written the document, that you agree with what is written, or that you were present as a witness.
World leaders are expected to sign a treaty pledging to increase environmental protection... V n
7 verb If an organization signs someone or if someone signs for an organization, they sign a contract agreeing to work for that organization for a specified period of time.
The Minnesota Vikings signed Herschel Walker from the Dallas Cowboys... V n
The band then signed to Slash Records. V to/for n
8 n-count In astrology, a sign or a signof the zodiac is one of the twelve areas into which the heavens are divided.
The New Moon takes place in your opposite sign of Libra on the 15th.
10 If you say that there is no sign of someone, you mean that they have not yet arrived, although you are expecting them to come.
no sign of someone phrase v-link PHR n
The London train was on time, but there was no sign of my Finnish friend.
11
→
to sign one's own death warrant
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death warrant sign away phrasal verb If you sign something away, you sign official documents that mean that you no longer own it or have a right to it.
The Duke signed away his inheritance... V P n (not pron)
They signed the rights away when they sold their idea to DC Comics. V n P sign for phrasal verb If you sign for something, you officially state that you have received it, by signing a form or book.
When the postal clerk delivers your order, check the carton before signing for it. V P n sign in phrasal verb If you sign in, you officially indicate that you have arrived at a hotel or club by signing a book or form.
I signed in and crunched across the gravel to my room. V P sign off
1 phrasal verb If someone signs off, they write a final message at the end of a letter or they say a final message at the end of a telephone conversation. You can say that people such as entertainers sign off when they finish a broadcast.
O.K. I'll sign off. We'll talk at the beginning of the week... V P
2 phrasal verb When someone who has been unemployed signs off, they officially inform the authorities that they have found a job, so that they no longer receive money from the government. (BRIT) If you work without signing off the dole you are breaking the law. V P n (not pron), Also V P sign on phrasal verb When an unemployed person signs on, they officially inform the authorities that they are unemployed, so that they can receive money from the government in order to live. (BRIT) He has signed on at the job centre... V P prep I had to sign on the dole on Monday. V P n (not pron) sign over phrasal verb If you sign something over, you sign documents that give someone else property, possessions, or rights that were previously yours. Two years ago, he signed over his art collection to the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art... V P n (not pron) Last June, he closed his business voluntarily and signed his assets over to someone else. V n P sign up phrasal verb If you sign up for an organization or if an organization signs you up, you sign a contract officially agreeing to do a job or course of study. He signed up as a steward with P&O Lines... V P as/for n He saw the song's potential, and persuaded the company to sign her up. V n P
call sign (call signs plural )A call sign is the letters and numbers which identify a person, vehicle, or organization that is broadcasting on the radio or sending messages by radio. n-count
division sign (division signs plural )A division sign is the symbol ÷ used between two numbers to show that the first number has to be divided by the second. n-count
equal sign (equal signs plural )
in BRIT, also use equals sign An equal sign is the sign =, which is used in arithmetic to indicate that two numbers or sets of numbers are equal. n-count
minus sign (minus signs plural )A minus sign is the sign - which is put between two numbers in order to show that the second number is being subtracted from the first one. It is also put before a number to show that the number is less than zero. n-count
multiplication sign (multiplication signs plural )A multiplication sign is the sign x which is put between two numbers to show that they are being multiplied. n-count
plus sign (plus signs plural )A plus sign is the sign + which is put between two numbers in order to show that the second number is being added to the first. It can also be put before a number to show that the number is greater than zero (+3), and after a number to indicate a number that is more than a minimum number or amount (18+). n-count
sign language (sign languages plural )Sign language is movements of your hands and arms used to communicate. There are several official systems of sign language, used for example by deaf people. Movements are also sometimes invented by people when they want to communicate with someone who does not speak the same language. n-var
Her son used sign language to tell her what happened.
star sign (star signs plural )Your star sign is the sign of the zodiac under which you were born. n-count
V-sign (V-signs plural )
1 n-count In Britain, a V-sign is a rude gesture which is made by sticking up your first two fingers in a V shape, with the palm of your hand facing you.
2 n-count A V-sign is a gesture which is made by sticking up your first two fingers in a V shape, with the palm of your hand facing away from you, as a sign of victory.
