sig·na·ture

(sĭg′nə-chər)

a. One's name as written by oneself.

b. The act of signing one's name.

2. A distinctive mark, characteristic, or sound indicating identity: A surprise ending is the signature of an O. Henry short story.

3. Medicine The part of a physician's prescription containing directions to the patient.

4. Music

a. A sign used to indicate key.

b. A sign used to indicate tempo.

5. Printing

a. A letter, number, or symbol placed at the bottom of the first page on each sheet of printed pages of a book as a guide to the proper sequence of the sheets in binding.

b. A large sheet printed with four or a multiple of four pages that when folded becomes a section of the book.

6. See chemical signature.

[French, from Old French, from Medieval Latin signātūra, from Latin signātus, past participle of signāre, to mark, from signum, sign; see sign.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

signature

(ˈsɪɡnɪtʃə)

1. the name of a person or a mark or sign representing his name, marked by himself or by an authorized deputy

2. the act of signing one's name

a. a distinctive mark, characteristic, etc, that identifies a person or thing

b. (as modifier): a signature fragrance.

4. (Classical Music) music See key signature, time signature

5. (Pharmacology) US the part of a medical prescription that instructs a patient how frequently and in what amounts he should take a drug or agent. Abbreviation: Sig or S

6. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) printing

a. a sheet of paper printed with several pages that upon folding will become a section or sections of a book

b. such a sheet so folded

c. a mark, esp a letter, printed on the first page of a signature

[C16: from Old French, from Medieval Latin signātura, from Latin signāre to sign]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sig•na•ture

(ˈsɪg nə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər)

n.

1. a person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.

2. the act of signing a document.

3. Music. a sign or set of signs at the beginning of a staff to indicate the key or the time of a piece.

4. a song, musical arrangement, sound effect, etc., used as a theme identifying a radio or television program.

5. any unique, distinguishing aspect, feature, or mark.

6. that part of a physician's prescription that specifies directions for use.

7. a distinctive characteristic or set of characteristics by which a biological structure or medical condition is recognized.

a. a printed sheet folded to page size for binding together, with other such sheets, to form a book, magazine, etc.

b. a mark placed on the first page of every sheet to guide the binder in folding and gathering them.

adj.

9. serving to identify or distinguish a person, group, etc.: a signature tune.

[1525–35; < Medieval Latin signātūra a signing, derivative of signā(re) to mark, seal]

signature

allograph - A signature or writing done for another person.
moniker - Originally meant a mark left by a tramp on a building or fence to indicate he/she had been there; therefore, a tramp's moniker identified him/her like a signature.
signature block - The typed or printed name and title of a person appearing below a signature at the bottom of a letter, e-mail, etc.
paraph - As a verb, to divide into paragraphs; the noun can mean a flourish made after a signature, especially to make it unique.

sign

– signature

1. 'sign'

When you sign a document, you write your name on it. You do this to show, for example, that you have written the document or that you agree with what it says.

I was in the act of signing a traveller's cheque.

...an order signed by the Home Secretary.

You can also say that someone signs their name.

Sign your name in the book each time you use the photocopier.

2. 'signature'

However, when you write your name, you do not refer to what you write as your 'sign'. You call it your signature.

Nino scrawled his signature on the bottom of the slip.

... petitions bearing thousands of signatures.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	signature - your name written in your own handwriting name - a language unit by which a person or thing is known; "his name really is George Washington"; "those are two names for the same thing" allograph - a signature written by one person for another autograph, John Hancock - a person's own signature countersignature, countersign - a second confirming signature endorsing a document already signed endorsement, indorsement - a signature that validates something; "the cashier would not cash the check without an endorsement" sign manual - the signature of a sovereign on an official document paraph - a flourish added after or under your signature (originally to protect against forgery)
	2.	signature - a distinguishing style; "this room needs a woman's touch" touch fashion, manner, mode, style, way - how something is done or how it happens; "her dignified manner"; "his rapid manner of talking"; "their nomadic mode of existence"; "in the characteristic New York style"; "a lonely way of life"; "in an abrasive fashion" common touch - the property of appealing to people in general (usually by appearing to have qualities in common with them)
	3.	signature - a melody used to identify a performer or a dance band or radio/tv program signature tune, theme song melodic line, melodic phrase, melody, tune, strain, air, line - a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; "she was humming an air from Beethoven"
	4.	signature - the sharps or flats that follow the clef and indicate the key key signature musical notation - (music) notation used by musicians
	5.	signature - a sheet with several pages printed on it; it folds to page size and is bound with other signatures to form a book piece of paper, sheet of paper, sheet - paper used for writing or printing book - a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together); "I am reading a good book on economics"

Translations

تَوْقيعتَوْقِيع

quadern

podpispodepsání

underskriftunderskrivning

Unterschrift Signatur

υπογραφή

firma

allekirjoitus

signature

potpis

aláírás

undirskrift

firma segnatura

署名

서명

parašaspasirašymas

parakstīšanaparaksts

handtekening tekening

signatur underskrift underskriving

podpis

assinatura

подпись рукоприкладство гриф

podpispodpísanie

podpis

underskrift

ลายเซ็น

imzaimzalama

chữ ký

签名签字

signature

[ˈsɪgnətʃəʳ]

A. N

1. [of person] → firma f
to put one's signature to sth → firmar algo

2. (Mus) → armadura f

B. CPD signature tune N (Brit) → sintonía f de apertura (de un programa)

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

signature

[ˈsɪgnətʃə^r] n → signature f
to put one's signature to sth (= sign) → apposer sa signature sur qchsignature tune n (British) → indicatif m (musical)

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

signature

→ Unterschrift f; (of artist) → Signatur f

(Mus) → Vorzeichnung f

(Typ) → Signatur f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

signature

[ˈsɪgnətʃəʳ] n

a. (of person) → firma
to put one's signature to sth → firmare qc, apporre la propria firma a qc

b. (Mus) key signature → segnatura in chiave
time signature → indicazione f del tempo

signature

(ˈsignətʃə) noun

1. a signed name. That is his signature on the cheque.

2. an act of signing one's name. Signature of this document means that you agree with us.

signature

→ تَوْقِيع podpis underskrift Unterschrift υπογραφή firma allekirjoitus signature potpis firma 署名 서명 handtekening signatur podpis assinatura подпись underskrift ลายเซ็น imza chữ ký 签名

sig·na·ture

1. n. firma;

2. parte de una receta médica que contiene las instrucciones.

signature

n firma

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

These marks are his signature, his physiological autograph, so to speak, and this autograph can not be counterfeited, nor can he disguise it or hide it away, nor can it become illegible by the wear and mutations of time.

View in context

it is part of my wiliness and part of my suspicion to object to Madame Fosco being a witness to Lady Glyde's signature, when I am also a witness myself."

View in context

While Edgar Poe was editor of the "Broadway journal," some lines "To Isadore" appeared therein, and, like several of his known pieces, bore no signature. They were at once ascribed to Poe, and in order to satisfy questioners, an editorial paragraph subsequently appeared saying they were by "A.

View in context

That the signature of the second Trustee (a retired army officer, living in the country) was a signature forged, in every case, by the active Trustee-- otherwise Mr.

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"I see it plain enough on the order; but for the same reason that the king's signature may have been forged, so also, and with even greater probability, may M.

View in context

Bambridge was in no alarm about his money, being sure that young Vincy had backers; but he had required something to show for it, and Fred had at first given a bill with his own signature. Three months later he had renewed this bill with the signature of Caleb Garth.

View in context

Besides," he added, softly, "I had to have his signature; I am insuring his life."

View in context

"When you open this letter" (so the first began), "look first at the signature. The signature will tell you all, so that I need explain nothing, nor attempt to justify myself.

View in context

At the beginning he saw the customary form used in making a will; at the end he discovered the signature of Mr.

View in context

Then Athos took from his pocket a small paper, on which two lines were written, accompanied by a signature and a seal, and presented them to him who had made too prematurely these signs of repugnance.

View in context

The captain read the note, examined the signature carefully, and whistled softly to himself.

View in context

The old vagabond, greatly amused by Moody's scruples, saw plainly enough that, so long as he wrote the supposed letter from Hardyman in the third person, it mattered little what handwriting was employed, seeing that no signature would be necessary.

View in context