» sign

Words people most associate with “sign”:

  1. stop,
  2. language,
  3. post,
  4. symbol,
  5. road

[via wordassociation.org]

Noun (11 meanings)

1. a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened).

sign, mark

Examples:
  • “he showed signs of strain”,
  • “they welcomed the signs of spring”
sign is a type of:
  • clue, clew, cue (noun) - evidence that helps to solve a problem
types of sign:
  • token (noun) - something serving as a sign of something else
sign is derivationally related to:

2. a public display of a message.

sign

Example:
  • “he posted signs in all the shop windows”
sign is a type of:
  • communication (noun) - something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups
types of sign:
sign is derivationally related to:
  • to sign (verb) - place signs, as along a road

3. any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message.

signal, signaling, sign

Example:
  • “signals from the boat suddenly stopped”
sign is a type of:
  • communication (noun) - something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups
types of sign:
  • alarm, alert, warning signal, alarum (noun) - an automatic signal (usually a sound) warning of danger
  • all clear (noun) - a signal (usually a siren) that danger is over
  • animal communication (noun) - communication between animals (of the same species)
  • bugle call (noun) - a signal broadcast by the sound of a bugle
  • curfew (noun) - a signal (usually a bell) announcing the start of curfew restrictions
  • distress signal, distress call (noun) - an internationally recognized signal sent out by a ship or plane indicating that help is needed
  • dog-ear (noun) - a corner of a page turned down to mark your place
  • drumbeat (noun) - (military) the beating of a drum as a signal for lowering the flag at sundown
  • electronic signal (noun) - a signal generated by electronic means
  • high sign (noun) - a silent signal of warning or recognition
  • indicator (noun) - a signal for attracting attention
  • input signal, input (noun) - signal going into an electronic system
  • output signal, output (noun) - signal that comes out of an electronic system
  • phone number, telephone number, number (noun) - the number is used in calling a particular telephone
  • radio beacon (noun) - a characteristic signal emitted by a transmitter used for navigation
  • radio beam, beam (noun) - a signal transmitted along a narrow path
  • recording (noun) - a signal that encodes something (e.g., picture or sound) that has been recorded
  • retreat (noun) - (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position
  • starting signal, start (noun) - a signal to begin (as in a race)
  • storm signal (noun) - a signal announcing the approach of a storm (particularly a storm of marked violence)
  • symbol (noun) - an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance
  • telegraphic signal, radiotelegraphic signal (noun) - a signal transmitted by telegraphy
  • ticktack (noun) - system of signalling by hand signs used by bookmakers at racetracks
  • time signal (noun) - a signal (especially electronic or by radio) indicating the precisely correct time
  • visual signal (noun) - a signal that involves visual communication
  • whistle, whistling (noun) - the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle
sign is derivationally related to:

4. structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted.

signboard, sign

Example:
  • “the highway was lined with signboards”
sign is a type of:
types of sign:
  • billboard, hoarding (noun) - large outdoor signboard
  • sandwich board (noun) - signboard consisting of two hinged boards that hang front and back from the shoulders of a walker and are used to display advertisements
  • scoreboard (noun) - a large board for displaying the score of a contest (and some other information)
  • shingle (noun) - a small signboard outside the office of a lawyer or doctor, e.g.
sign is derivationally related to:
  • to sign (verb) - place signs, as along a road

5. (astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided.

sign of the zodiac, star sign, sign, mansion, house, planetary house

sign is a type of:
  • region, part (noun) - the extended spatial location of something
instances of sign:
sign is a part of:
  • zodiac (noun) - a belt-shaped region in the heavens on either side to the ecliptic
Domain of synset - TOPIC:
  • astrology, star divination (noun) - a pseudoscience claiming divination by the positions of the planets and sun and moon

6. (medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease.

sign

Example:
  • “there were no signs of asphyxiation”
sign is a type of:
types of sign:
sign is a part of:
  • disease (noun) - an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning
Domain of synset - TOPIC:

7. having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges).

polarity, sign

Examples:
  • “he got the polarity of the battery reversed”,
  • “charges of opposite sign”
sign is a type of:
types of sign:
sign is derivationally related to:
  • polar (adjective) - having a pair of equal and opposite charges

8. an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come.

augury, sign, foretoken, preindication

Examples:
  • “he hoped it was an augury”,
  • “it was a sign from God”
sign is a type of:
types of sign:
sign is derivationally related to:

9. a gesture that is part of a sign language.

sign

sign is a type of:
  • gesture, motion (noun) - the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
sign is a part of:
sign is derivationally related to:
  • to sign (verb) - communicate in sign language
  • to sign, signal, signalize, signalise (verb) - communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs
  • to signify (verb) - convey or express a meaning

10. a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified; "The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary"--de Saussure.

sign

sign is a type of:
Domain of synset - TOPIC:

11. a character indicating a relation between quantities.

sign

Example:
  • “don't forget the minus sign”
sign is a type of:
types of sign:
  • equal sign (noun) - a sign indicating that the quantities on either side are equal
  • minus sign (noun) - a sign indicating the operation of subtraction
  • plus sign (noun) - a sign indicating the operation of addition
  • radical sign (noun) - a sign indicating the extraction of a root
sign is derivationally related to:

Verb (8 meanings)

1. mark with one's signature; write one's name (on).

to sign, subscribe

Examples:
  • “She signed the letter and sent it off”,
  • “Please sign here”
to sign is a way to:
  • to write (verb) - communicate or express by writing
ways to sign:
  • to rubricate (verb) - sign with a mark instead of a name
to sign is derivationally related to:
  • signature (noun) - your name written in your own handwriting
  • signer, signatory (noun) - someone who signs and is bound by a document
  • subscription (noun) - the act of signing your name
see also:

2. approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation.

to sign, ratify

Examples:
  • “All parties ratified the peace treaty”,
  • “Have you signed your contract yet?”
to sign is a way to:
to sign is derivationally related to:
to sign entails:

3. be engaged by a written agreement.

to sign

Examples:
  • “He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18”,
  • “The soprano signed to sing the new opera”
to sign is a way to:
ways to sign:
  • to autograph, inscribe (verb) - mark with one's signature
  • to countersign (verb) - add one's signature to after another's to attest authenticity
  • to endorse, indorse (verb) - sign as evidence of legal transfer
  • to execute (verb) - sign in the presence of witnesses
  • to initial (verb) - mark with one's initials
  • to ink (verb) - append one's signature to
  • to undersign (verb) - sign at the bottom of (a document)
to sign is derivationally related to:

4. engage by written agreement.

to sign, contract, sign on, sign up

Example:
  • “They signed two new pitchers for the next season”
to sign is a way to:
ways to sign:
  • to contract out (verb) - assign a job to someone outside one's own business
to sign is derivationally related to:
  • contract (noun) - a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law
  • signer, signatory (noun) - someone who signs and is bound by a document

5. communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs.

to sign, signal, signalize, signalise

Examples:
  • “He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture”,
  • “The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu”
to sign is a way to:
ways to sign:
  • to flag (verb) - communicate or signal with a flag
  • to heliograph (verb) - signal by means of a mirror and the using the sun's rays
  • to semaphore (verb) - send signals by or as if by semaphore
  • to whistle (verb) - give a signal by whistling
  • to wigwag (verb) - signal by or as if by a flag or light waved according to a code
to sign is derivationally related to:
  • sign (noun) - a gesture that is part of a sign language
  • sign language, signing (noun) - language expressed by visible hand gestures
  • signal, signaling, sign (noun) - any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
  • signaler, signaller (noun) - someone who communicates by signals
  • signer (noun) - someone who can use sign language to communicate

6. place signs, as along a road.

to sign

Examples:
  • “sign an intersection”,
  • “This road has been signed”
to sign is a way to:
to sign is derivationally related to:
  • sign (noun) - a public display of a message
  • signboard, sign (noun) - structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted

7. communicate in sign language.

to sign

Example:
  • “I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin”
to sign is a way to:
to sign is derivationally related to:
  • sign (noun) - a gesture that is part of a sign language
  • signer (noun) - someone who can use sign language to communicate

8. make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate.

to bless, sign

to sign is a way to:
to sign is derivationally related to:

Adjective (1 meaning)

1. used of the language of the deaf.

gestural, sign, signed, sign-language

sign is similar to: