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sign

sign

87 1.8
A movement made to show meaning or give an instruction
  • noun
  • /saɪn/
: seña
  • And now let us offer each other a sign of peace.
  • sign language
  • American sign language
  • sign language interpreter

If you could give us a sign that you're here with us, please.

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Examples

  • Let him give me a sign.

  • Many Christians stand during their reading as a sign of reverence.

    Academic text (2015)
  • If you can hear me, give us a sign.

  • A scout who could speak our language a little and who knew sign language was with them.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • You know, there's an American Sign Language course at the evening extension.

  • To be more readily recognized as deaf, a person with sign language skills might try signing.

    Academic text (1997)
  • You taught me how to speak like the Clan does, with signs and motions, not words.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Her parents desired to maximize her education by having a sign interpreter in the classroom.

    Academic text (2015)
  • "Don't go in, Jondalar! Wolf! Stay!" she commanded, making the sign with her hand as well.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • In our class, we often use signs to help students understand complex ideas.

Synonyms

signal
vssign
470 2.1

A gesture or sound that tells someone to act

is focused specifically on communicative movements and hand-based language forms
gesture
vssign
134 2.3

A movement of the body that shows a thought or feeling

includes these movements but also covers full language systems using hands and faces
wave
vssign
54 1.0

A hand movement to greet or attract attention

is broader, covering many movement types and language use beyond this action
sign language
vssign
36 2.8

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

is a broader label that also covers single movements or simple gestures
motion
vssign
14 2.0

A movement of the hand or body to signal someone

is wider, including expressive systems and sequences used for language
signing
vssign
5 3.7

Using hand movements and gestures to communicate, often as a language for deaf people

is the general term covering any communicative movement, language use, or gesture
3 3.9

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

covers this language type plus other simple communicative movements
1 2.9

A movement of the face to show emotion or send a message without words

also covers hand and body movements and full visual language use
gesticulation
vssign
1 7.4

Movements of the hands and arms that show feeling or make a point when you speak

is more general and also includes single or less expressive movements

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 Clear

sign language
36 2.8
sign
87 1.8
signal
470 2.1
gesture
237 3.2

Surface Forms

sign singular
signs plural

Etymology

The word sign comes from the Latin signum, meaning 'mark', and is the same root as signal. A gesture or movement is a kind of sign because it makes a clear visible message, like a human 'mark' that tells someone what to do.