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.

synonym: mark.

Roget 872: prodigy, phenomenon; wonder, wonderment; marvel, miracle; monster etc. (unconformity) 83; curiosity, lion, sight, spectacle; jeu de theatre [Fr.], coup de theatre; gazingstock^†; sign; St.    Elmo's fire, St.    Elmo's light; portent etc. 512.    bursting of a shell, bursting of a bomb; volcanic eruption, peal of thunder; thunder-clap, thunder-bolt.    what no words can paint; wonders of the world; annus mirabilis [Lat.]; dignus vindice nodus [Lat.].    ... show more

Dutch: teken

A public display of a message.

Dutch: bord, paneel, schild

Any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message:
— Signals from the boat suddenly stopped.

synonyms: signal, signaling.

Polish: sygnał

Structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted:
— The highway was lined with signboards.

synonym: signboard.

Roget 550: indication; symbolism, symbolization; semiology, semiotics, semeiology^†, semeiotics^†; Zeitgeist.    [means of recognition: property] characteristic, diagnostic; lineament, feature, trait; fingerprint, voiceprint, footprint, noseprint [for animals]; cloven hoof; footfall; recognition (memory) 505.    [means of recognition: tool] diagnostic, divining rod; detector.    sign, symbol; index, indice^†, indicator; point, pointer; exponent, note, token, symptom; dollar sign, dollar mark.    type, figure, emblem, cipher, device; representation etc. 554; epigraph, motto, posy.    gesture, gesticulation; pantomime; wink, glance, leer; nod, shrug, beck; touch, nudge; dactylology^†, dactylonomy^†; freemasonry, telegraphy, chirology [Med.], byplay, dumb show; cue; hint etc. 527; clue, clew, key, scent.    signal, signal post; rocket, blue light; watch fire, watch tower; telegraph, semaphore, flagstaff; cresset^†, fiery cross; calumet; heliograph; guidon; headlight.    [sign (evidence) on physobj of contact with another physobj] mark, scratch, line, stroke, dash, score, stripe, streak, tick, dot, point, notch, nick.    print; imprint, impress, impression.    [symbols accompanying written text to signify modified interpretation] keyboard symbols, printing symbols; [Symbols for emphasis], red letter, italics, sublineation^†, underlining, bold font; jotting; note, annotation, reference; blaze, cedilla, guillemets^†, hachure [Topo.]; [Special Characters list], quotation marks, "; double quotes, " "; parentheses, "( )"; brackets, "[ ]"; braces, "{ }", curly brackets; arrows, slashes; left parenthesis, "("; right parenthesis, ")"; opening bracket, "["; closing bracket, "]"; left curly brace, "{"; right curly brace, "}"; left arrow, ""; forward slash, "/"; backward slash, "\\"; exclamation point, "!"; commercial at, "@"; pound sign, "#"; percent sign, "%"; carat, "^"; ampersand, "&"; asterisk, "*"; hyphen, "-"; dash, "-", "_"; em dash, "--"; plus sign, "+"; equals sign, "="; question mark, "?"; period, "."; semicolon, ";"; colon, ":"; comma, ","; apostrophe, "'"; single quote, "'"; tilde, "~". [For identification: general] badge, criterion; countercheck^†, countermark^†, countersign, counterfoil; duplicate, tally; label, ticket, billet, letter, counter, check, chip, chop; dib^†; totem; tessera^†, card, bill; witness, voucher; stamp; cacher [Fr.]; trade mark, Hall mark.    [For identification of people, on a document] signature, mark, autograph, autography; attestation; hand, hand writing, sign manual; cipher; seal, sigil [Lat.], signet, hand and seal [Law]; paraph^†, brand; superscription; indorsement^†, endorsement.    [For identification of people, to gain access to restricted (locations or information)] password, watchword, catchword; security card, pass, passkey; credentials etc. (evidence) 467; open sesame; timbrology^†; mot de passe [Fr.], mot du guet [Fr.]; pass-parole; shibboleth.    title, heading, docket.    address card, visiting card; carte de visite [Fr.].    insignia; banner, banneret^†, bannerol^†; bandrol^†; flag, colors, streamer, standard, eagle, labarum^†, oriflamb^†, oriflamme; figurehead; ensign; pennon, pennant, pendant; burgee^†, blue Peter, jack, ancient, gonfalon, union jack; banderole, old glory [U.S.], quarantine flag; vexillum^†; yellow-flag, yellow jack; tricolor, stars and stripes; bunting.    heraldry, crest; coat of arms, arms; armorial bearings, hatchment^†; escutcheon, scutcheon; shield, supporters; livery, uniform; cockade, epaulet, chevron; garland, love knot, favor.    [Of locality] beacon, cairn, post, staff, flagstaff, hand, pointer, vane, cock, weathercock; guidepost, handpost^†, fingerpost^†, directing post, signpost; pillars of Hercules, pharos; bale-fire, beacon-fire; l'etoile du Nord [Fr.]; landmark, seamark; lighthouse, balize^†; polestar, loadstar^†, lodestar; cynosure, guide; address, direction, name; sign, signboard.    [Of the future] warning etc. 668; omen etc. 512; prefigurement etc. 511.    [Of the past] trace, record &c., 551.    [Of danger] warning etc. 668, alarm etc. 669.    [of authority]. scepter etc. 747.    [of triumph]. trophy etc. 733.    [of quantity]. gauge etc. 466.    [Of Distance] milestone, milepost.    [Of disgrace], brand, fool's cap.    [For detection], check, telltale; test etc. (experiment) 463; mileage ticket; milliary^†.    notification etc. (information) 527; advertisement etc. (publication) 531.    word of command, call; bugle call, trumpet call; bell, alarum, cry; battle cry, rallying cry; angelus^†; reveille; sacring bell^†, sanctus bell [Lat.].    exposition etc. (explanation) 522, proof etc. (evidence) 463; pattern etc. (prototype) 22.    ... show more

Dutch: uithangbord

astrology One of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided.

synonyms: house, mansion, planetary house, sign of the zodiac, star sign.

Dutch: zodiacteken
Polish: znak zodiaku

medicine Any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease.

Polish: zwiastun

Having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges):
— Charges of opposite sign.

synonym: polarity.

An event that is experienced as indicating important things to come:
— It was a sign from God.

synonyms: augury, foretoken, preindication.

Roget 512: omen, portent, presage, prognostic, augury, auspice; sign etc. (indication) 550; harbinger etc. (precursor) 64; yule candle^†.    bird of ill omen; signs of the times; gathering clouds; warning etc. 668.    prefigurement etc. 511.    ... show more

A gesture that is part of a sign language.

Dutch: gebarentaal, bord, teken, ik heb dorst, gebaar, geste, wenk
Polish: mig

A fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified.

A character indicating a relation between quantities.

Polish: symbol matematyczny, znak matematyczny

Mark with one's signature; write one's name (on):
— She signed the letter and sent it off.
— Please sign here.

synonym: subscribe.

Roget 771: give security, give bail, give substantial bail; go bail; pawn, impawn^†, spout, mortgage, hypothecate, impignorate^†.    guarantee, warrant, warrantee, assure; accept, indorse, underwrite, insure; cosign, countersign, sponsor, cosponsor.    execute, stamp; sign, seal etc. (evidence) 467.    let, sett^†; grant a lease, take a lease, hold a lease; hold in pledge; lend on security etc. 787.    ... show more

Roget 769: contract, covenant, agree for; engage etc. (promise) 768.    treat, negotiate, stipulate, make terms; bargain etc. (barter) 794.    make a bargain, strike a bargain; come to terms, come to an understanding; compromise etc. 774; set at rest; close, close with; conclude, complete, settle; confirm, ratify, clench, subscribe, underwrite; endorse, indorse; put the seal to; sign, seal etc. (attest) 467; indent.    take one at one's word, bargain by inch of candle.    ... show more

Roget 551: record; put on record, place on record; chronicle, calendar, hand down to posterity; keep up the memory etc. (remember) 505; commemorate etc. (celebrate) 883; report etc. (inform) 527; write, commit to writing, reduce to writing; put in writing, set down in writing, writing in black and white; put down, jot down, take down, write down, note down, set down; note, minute, put on paper; take note, make a note, take minute, take memorandum; make a return.    mark etc. (indicate) 550; sign etc. (attest) 467.    enter, book; post, post up, insert, make an entry of; mark off, tick off; register, enroll, inscroll^†; file etc. (store) 636.    burn into memory; carve in stone.    ... show more

Roget 590: write, pen; copy, engross; write out, write out fair; transcribe; scribble, scrawl, scrabble, scratch; interline; stain paper; write down etc. (record) 551; sign etc. (attest) 467; enface^†.    compose, indite, draw up, draft, formulate; dictate; inscribe, throw on paper, dash off; manifold.    take up the pen, take pen in hand; shed ink, spill ink, dip one's pen in ink.    ... show more

Approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation:
— Have you signed your contract yet?.

synonym: ratify.

Roget 467: be evidence etc. n.; evince, show, betoken, tell of; indicate etc. (denote) 550; imply, involve, argue, bespeak, breathe.    have weight, carry weight; tell, speak volumes; speak for itself etc. (manifest) 525.    rest upon, depend upon; repose on.    bear witness etc. n.; give evidence etc. n.; testify, depose, witness, vouch for; sign, seal, undersign^†, set one's hand and seal, sign and seal, deliver as one's act and deed, certify, attest; acknowledge etc. (assent) 488.    [provide conclusive evidence] make absolute, confirm, prove (demonstrate) 478.    [add further evidence] indorse, countersign, corroborate, support, ratify, bear out, uphold, warrant.    adduce, attest, cite, quote; refer to, appeal to; call, call to witness; bring forward, bring into court; allege, plead; produce witnesses, confront witnesses.    place into evidence, mark into evidence.    [obtain evidence] collect evidence, bring together evidence, rake up evidence; experiment etc. 463.    have a case, make out a case; establish, authenticate, substantiate, verify, make good, quote chapter and verse; bring home to, bring to book.    ... show more

Dutch: bekrachtigen, ondertekenen, ratificeren, signeren, tekenen

Be engaged by a written agreement.

Engage by written agreement:
— They signed two new pitchers for the next season.

synonyms: contract, sign on, sign up.

Dutch: contracteren

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.

synonyms: signal, signalise, signalize.

Roget 550: indicate; be the sign etc. n.. of; denote, betoken; argue, testify etc. (evidence) 467; bear the impress etc. n.. of; connote, connotate^†.    represent, stand for; typify etc. (prefigure) 511; symbolize.    put an indication, put a mark etc. n.; note, mark, stamp, earmark; blaze; label, ticket, docket; dot, spot, score, dash, trace, chalk; print; imprint, impress; engrave, stereotype.    make a sign etc. n.. signalize; underscore; give a signal, hang out a signal; beckon; nod; wink, glance, leer, nudge, shrug, tip the wink; gesticulate; raise the finger, hold up the finger, raise the hand, hold up the hand; saw the air, suit the action to the word" [Hamlet]. wave a banner, unfurl a banner, hoist a banner, hang out a banner etc. n.; wave the hand, wave a kerchief; give the cue etc. (inform) 527; show one's colors; give an alarm, sound an alarm; beat the drum, sound the trumpets, raise a cry.    sign, seal, attest etc. (evidence) 467; underline etc. (give importance to) 642; call attention to etc. (attention) 457; give notice etc. (inform) 527.    ... show more

Dutch: seinen

Place signs, as along a road.

Communicate in sign language.

Dutch: seinen

Make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate.

synonym: bless.

Used of the language of the deaf.

synonyms: gestural, sign-language, signed.