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.
You can also say that someone signs their name.
However, when you write your name, you do not refer to what you write as your 'sign'. You call it your signature.
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Noun | 1. | sign - a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened); "he showed signs of strain"; "they welcomed the signs of spring" token - something serving as a sign of something else |
2. | sign - a public display of a message; "he posted signs in all the shop windows" communication - something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups placard, poster, posting, notice, bill, card - a sign posted in a public place as an advertisement; "a poster advertised the coming attractions" street sign - a sign visible from the street | |
3. | ![]() communication - something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups recording - a signal that encodes something (e.g., picture or sound) that has been recorded phone number, telephone number, number - the number is used in calling a particular telephone; "he has an unlisted number" starting signal, start - a signal to begin (as in a race); "the starting signal was a green light"; "the runners awaited the start" storm signal - a signal announcing the approach of a storm (particularly a storm of marked violence) beam, radio beam - a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather ticktack - system of signalling by hand signs used by bookmakers at racetracks time signal - a signal (especially electronic or by radio) indicating the precisely correct time dog-ear - a corner of a page turned down to mark your place animal communication - communication between animals (of the same species) distress call, distress signal - an internationally recognized signal sent out by a ship or plane indicating that help is needed all clear - a signal (usually a siren) that danger is over bugle call - a signal broadcast by the sound of a bugle curfew - a signal (usually a bell) announcing the start of curfew restrictions retreat - (military) a signal to begin a withdrawal from a dangerous position drumbeat - (military) the beating of a drum as a signal for lowering the flag at sundown radiotelegraphic signal, telegraphic signal - a signal transmitted by telegraphy whistle, whistling - the act of signalling (e.g., summoning) by whistling or blowing a whistle; "the whistle signalled the end of the game" high sign - a silent signal of warning or recognition; "she started to speak but he gave her the high sign" symbol - an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance visual signal - a signal that involves visual communication indicator - a signal for attracting attention electronic signal - a signal generated by electronic means radio beacon - a characteristic signal emitted by a transmitter used for navigation input, input signal - signal going into an electronic system output signal, output - signal that comes out of an electronic system | |
4. | sign - structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted; "the highway was lined with signboards" sandwich board - signboard consisting of two hinged boards that hang front and back from the shoulders of a walker and are used to display advertisements scoreboard - a large board for displaying the score of a contest (and some other information) shingle - a small signboard outside the office of a lawyer or doctor, e.g. structure, construction - a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons" | |
5. | ![]() astrology, star divination - a pseudoscience claiming divination by the positions of the planets and sun and moon region, part - the extended spatial location of something; "the farming regions of France"; "religions in all parts of the world"; "regions of outer space" zodiac - a belt-shaped region in the heavens on either side to the ecliptic; divided into 12 constellations or signs for astrological purposes | |
6. | sign - (medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease; "there were no signs of asphyxiation" evidence, grounds - your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief; "the evidence that smoking causes lung cancer is very compelling" medical specialty, medicine - the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques vital sign - sign of life; usually an indicator of a person's general physical condition; "he was still alive but his vital signs were weak" | |
7. | sign - having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges); "he got the polarity of the battery reversed"; "charges of opposite sign" oppositeness, opposition - the relation between opposed entities positiveness, positivity - the character of the positive electric pole negativeness, negativity - the character of the negative electric pole | |
8. | sign - an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come; "he hoped it was an augury"; "it was a sign from God" experience - an event as apprehended; "a surprising experience"; "that painful experience certainly got our attention" war cloud - an ominous sign that war threatens omen, portent, prognostic, prognostication, presage, prodigy - a sign of something about to happen; "he looked for an omen before going into battle" | |
9. | sign - a gesture that is part of a sign language sign language, signing - language expressed by visible hand gestures | |
10. | sign - a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified; "The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary"--de Saussure linguistics - the scientific study of language language unit, linguistic unit - one of the natural units into which linguistic messages can be analyzed | |
11. | sign - a character indicating a relation between quantities; "don't forget the minus sign" mathematical notation - a notation used by mathematicians equal sign - a sign indicating that the quantities on either side are equal plus sign - a sign indicating the operation of addition minus sign - a sign indicating the operation of subtraction radical sign - a sign indicating the extraction of a root | |
Verb | 1. | sign - mark with one's signature; write one's name (on); "She signed the letter and sent it off"; "Please sign here" write - communicate or express by writing; "Please write to me every week" rubricate - sign with a mark instead of a name |
2. | sign - approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation; "All parties ratified the peace treaty"; "Have you signed your contract yet?" | |
3. | sign - be engaged by a written agreement; "He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18"; "The soprano signed to sing the new opera" undersign - sign at the bottom of (a document) ink - append one's signature to; "They inked the contract" initial - mark with one's initials countersign - add one's signature to after another's to attest authenticity; "You must countersign on this line of the contract" execute - sign in the presence of witnesses; "The President executed the treaty" | |
4. | sign - engage by written agreement; "They signed two new pitchers for the next season" hire, employ, engage - engage or hire for work; "They hired two new secretaries in the department"; "How many people has she employed?" contract out - assign a job to someone outside one's own business | |
5. | sign - communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs; "He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture"; "The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu" communicate, intercommunicate - transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist" wigwag - signal by or as if by a flag or light waved according to a code semaphore - send signals by or as if by semaphore heliograph - signal by means of a mirror and the using the sun's rays flag - communicate or signal with a flag whistle - give a signal by whistling; "She whistled for her maid" | |
6. | sign - place signs, as along a road; "sign an intersection"; "This road has been signed" | |
7. | sign - communicate in sign language; "I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin" communicate, intercommunicate - transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist" | |
8. | ![]() gesticulate, gesture, motion - show, express or direct through movement; "He gestured his desire to leave" | |
Adj. | 1. | sign - used of the language of the deaf communicatory, communicative - able or tending to communicate; "was a communicative person and quickly told all she knew"- W.M.Thackeray |