1. (noun) sign, mark
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"
2. (noun) sign
a public display of a message
"he posted signs in all the shop windows"
3. (noun) signal, signaling, sign
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
"signals from the boat suddenly stopped"
4. (noun) signboard, sign
structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted
"the highway was lined with signboards"
5. (noun) sign of the zodiac, star sign, sign, mansion, house, planetary house
(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
6. (noun) sign
(medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease
"there were no signs of asphyxiation"
7. (noun) polarity, 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"
8. (noun) augury, sign, foretoken, preindication
an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come
"he hoped it was an augury"; "it was a sign from God"
9. (noun) sign
a gesture that is part of a sign language
10. (noun) 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
11. (adj) sign
a character indicating a relation between quantities
"don't forget the minus sign"
12. (verb) gestural, sign(a), signed, sign-language(a)
used of the language of the deaf
13. (verb) sign, subscribe
mark with one's signature; write one's name (on)
"She signed the letter and sent it off"; "Please sign here"
14. (verb) sign, ratify
approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
"All parties ratified the peace treaty"; "Have you signed your contract yet?"
15. (verb) sign
be engaged by a written agreement
"He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18"; "The soprano signed to sing the new opera"
16. (verb) sign, contract, sign on, sign up
engage by written agreement
"They signed two new pitchers for the next season"
17. (verb) sign, signal, signalize, signalise
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"
18. (verb) sign
place signs, as along a road
"sign an intersection"; "This road has been signed"
19. (verb) sign
communicate in sign language
"I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin"
20. (verb) bless, sign
make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate
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Definition of 'sign' 
