# sign

/ˈsaɪn/ (US) · /sˈaɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sign
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a physical notice

noun · CEFR A2

a board or notice with words or pictures that gives information or instructions.

For teachers: a physical object, typically a board or placard, displaying a message, warning, or direction.

- The road sign told the driver to turn left at the next junction.
- The local council erected a prominent sign warning pedestrians that the coastal path was prone to erosion during the winter months.

### 2. evidence or indication

noun · CEFR A2

something that shows that a situation exists or is likely to happen.

For teachers: an indicator or piece of evidence suggesting the presence, existence, or imminence of something.

- Dark clouds are often a sign that it will rain soon.
- Economists noted that the sudden increase in consumer spending was a clear sign of returning confidence in the national market.

### 3. a gesture or symbol

noun · CEFR B1

a movement of your hand or a mark that has a special meaning.

For teachers: a gesture, mark, or symbol used to represent a specific meaning or to communicate without speech.

- He gave a thumbs-up sign to show that everything was okay.
- The referee made a specific hand sign to indicate that the goal had been disallowed due to an earlier foul.

### 4. astrology

noun · CEFR B1

one of the twelve areas of the zodiac, like Leo or Taurus.

For teachers: any of the twelve divisions of the zodiac, used in astrology to predict character or future events.

- What is your star sign? I was born in April, so I am an Aries.
- Although she claimed not to believe in astrology, she still checked the predictions for her sign in the Sunday newspaper.

### 5. mathematical polarity

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the symbol + or - used to show if a number is positive or negative.

For teachers: the property of being positive or negative, represented by the plus or minus symbol.

- If you change the sign from minus to plus, the answer will be different.
- The student failed to notice the negative sign before the bracket, which led to a cumulative error in the final calculation.

### 6. to write a signature

verb · CEFR A2

to write your name on a document to show that you agree with it.

For teachers: to write one's signature on a document to formalise, approve, or acknowledge it.

- You need to sign the contract at the bottom of the last page.
- The treaty was finally signed by all representatives after three days of intensive negotiations in the capital.

### 7. to use sign language

verb · CEFR B1

to communicate using your hands and gestures instead of speaking.

For teachers: to communicate using a system of manual gestures, particularly as used by the deaf community.

- She learned how to sign so she could talk to her cousin who cannot hear.
- The interpreter began to sign the speech simultaneously, ensuring the deaf members of the audience could follow the debate in real time.

## Examples

- The road sign says we must turn left here.
- The doctor looked for any sign of infection before deciding whether to prescribe medicine.
- Linguists distinguish between the signifier, which is the physical form of a sign, and the signified, which is the mental concept it represents within a specific culture.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.