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sign

sign

∞ 1.0
A board or display giving information to the public
  • noun
  • /saɪn/
: señal
  • And now as you can see on the sign, it says Asia.
  • a stop sign
  • a street sign
  • a warning sign

It's just green signs, wide roads, big SUVs.

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Examples

  • I saw your "Help Wanted" sign, and Emma here would love to work at the Empire Skate Building.

  • Hanging on the wall was a large sign that read, "FAIL FAST."

    Academic text (2012)
  • Finally put her name on the sign out there?

  • And right next to that, there was a sign for a dog Walker.

  • The reward sign looked like a lost cat or dog sign, like the ones we see today.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Hundreds of hospital staff had already been marching with signs during lunchtime demonstrations.

    Academic text (2011)
  • They, in a somewhat humorous fashion, put a sign on their door at the White House in a secret location that just said "Plumbers."

  • The restaurant displayed a large sign outside to attract more customers.

  • He held a sign that read, "Save the Planet," during the rally.

  • Please follow the sign that directs you to the nearest restroom.

Synonyms

poster
vssign
363 1.0

A large printed picture used in public to advertise or decorate

covers that printed display but also nonprinted public displays and structures
board
vssign
263 1.0

A flat surface where people put notices and information

is the broader category for any public display or informational structure
notice
vssign
200 1.0

A written message giving information to people

is the broader public display idea not limited to printed announcements
billboard
vssign
  • US
131 1.3

A large outdoor board that shows advertisements beside roads or on buildings

also includes smaller indoor or roadside informational displays
advertizement
vssign
  • US
24 1.4

A public message that tries to sell a product or service

focuses more generally on giving information, not only promotion
placard
vssign
21 5.1

A large sign shown in public to give information or advertise

is the wider display concept that also includes permanent informational displays
street sign
vssign
18 1.0

A sign beside a road that shows its name, directions, or rules

is the wider term that includes non traffic informational or advertising displays
advert
vssign
  • UK
15 2.2

A short message that tells people about a product, service, or event

is mainly a physical public display rather than media or broadcast messages
signpost
vssign
8 1.6

A post with a sign that shows directions or information about a place

is the general category that also includes nonpost displays and notices
signboard
vssign
2 2.1

A board in a public place that shows ads or useful information

is the general term for any public display giving information or instructions
display board
vssign
1 3.2

A board that shows information or holds items for people to see

is the general notion covering many types of public information displays
guidepost
vssign
1 2.5

A post with a sign that shows directions on a road or trail

is the broader display idea not limited to directional posts
1 1.6

A sign by the road that shows drivers where places are

covers public displays more broadly beyond road navigation aids
show bill
vssign
  • Archaic
1 5.8

A poster that tells people about a play or musical

is the broader public display idea beyond theatrical promotion
1 3.6

A large printed picture that advertises a play

is the general display term not limited to theatre promotion

Antonyms

11 6.8

Something that covers a person or object to hide it from view

1 7.4

Hard to understand or see, making people feel confused

Idioms

Officially agree to something by writing your name on a document

Compounds

61 1.0

A road sign that tells drivers to stop completely before going

59 1.6

Something that shows there may be danger or a problem

vital sign
  • Specialized
37 2.4

Measurements like heart rate or blood pressure that show how well the body is working

36 2.8

A language using hand signs and face movements to communicate, often used by people who are deaf

18 1.0

A sign beside a road that shows its name, directions, or rules

16 3.0

A form where people write their names to join an activity

16 1.3

An obvious thing that shows something is true

14 4.6

Something that shows how people live or think now

12 3.5

Relating to joining something, used before a noun

9 1.3

A symbol written before a number to show dollars

8 4.5

A sign that someone cares more about money than other things

8 2.9

A circle with three lines that people use to show a wish for no war

A short Christian gesture moving the hand to trace a cross to show faith

sign-off
  • Formal
7 4.2

Final approval that allows a document or project to finish

plus sign
  • Specialized
4 1.5

A mark + used to show adding numbers or something extra

A language of hand signs and body movements used by deaf people in the United States and parts of Canada

3 2.5

The act of giving your name and details to join something

3 7.8

A quiet signal to warn, greet, or recognize someone

A small action that shows you love or like someone

3 3.4

One of twelve parts in astrology that shows where the sun was when you were born

2 3.6

A measure that shows how well a system or business is doing

One of twelve parts of the sky used in astrology to show personality and give horoscopes

pound sign
  • Texting
2 2.7

A symbol # used to mark numbers or make tags on social media

minus sign
  • Specialized
1 2.1

A small horizontal line used to show subtraction or a negative number

equal sign
  • Specialized
1 1.0

The symbol '=' shows two values are the same

1 3.7

A person who makes signs and billboards by hand

1 2.7

A gesture made by holding up the index and middle fingers in a V shape to show victory or peace

Indian sign
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A sign people believe shows what will happen or what to do

A sign by the road that shows drivers where places are

Kernig's sign
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A sign when the knee cannot fully straighten with the thigh bent, showing a possible brain infection

1 4.0

A final message or tune played when a broadcast ends

1 1.0

A symbol you put after a number to show parts out of 100

1 2.2

A small + symbol in apps used to add or create a new item

times sign
  • Specialized
1 2.3

A symbol × used to show multiplication between numbers

1 7.6

A thing that shows land is near, like birds or distant clouds

multiplication sign
  • Specialized
1 2.5

A symbol that shows one number times another, usually ×

1 3.3

A symbol £ used to show British money on prices

Companies that design, make, and install signs like shop or road signs

A symbol % that shows a number out of 100

Babinski sign
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A big toe moving upward when the sole is stroked, normal in babies but showing nerve damage in adults

hard sign
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A Cyrillic letter that makes the consonant before it sound hard

1 9.9

The written name of a king or queen on an official document showing personal approval

A sign with red and white stripes that shows a place where people get haircuts

9.9

A purplish colour of the lining of the vagina that appears in early pregnancy

radical sign
  • Specialized
5.3

A symbol √ that shows the square root of a number

Raynaud's sign
  • Specialized
9.1

Blue colour of fingers and toes when tiny blood vessels tighten from cold or stress

soft sign
  • Specialized
9.9

A Cyrillic letter that makes the consonant before it sound with the tongue near the roof of the mouth

How Visible

billboard
  • US
131 1.3
sign
∞ 1.0
poster
363 1.0
notice
200 1.0
label
264 1.0

Surface Forms

sign singular
signs plural

Etymology

The word sign comes from the Latin signum, which means 'mark' or 'sign' and is the same root as signal and signature. A public sign is a marked board or display that shows information or instructions, so the origin helps explain it as a visible message.