Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - sign

~1 n 1 »STH THAT PROVES STH« an event, fact etc that shows that something is happening or that something is true; indication  (sign of)  (The tests can detect early signs of disease. | sign that)  (Exports have risen by 20%, a sign that the economy is improving. | a sure sign (=clear proof))  (You know Eric, if he won't eat, it's a sure sign that he's in love again! | telltale sign (=a sign that is easy to recognize, usually of something bad))  (telltale signs of drug abuse. | show signs of)  (For the first time she was beginning to show signs of her age. | every sign of (=clear signs of))  (They showed every sign of being willing to cooperate.) 2 there's no sign of a) if there is no sign of something, you cannot see anything which shows that it exists or has happened  (The police looked all around the house, but there was no sign of a struggle.) b) if there is no sign of someone, you cannot see them anywhere, or they have not arrived when you expected them to  (Jerry kept looking out of the window, but there was still no sign of her.) 3 »MOVEMENT OR SOUND« a movement, sound etc that you make in order to tell someone to do something or give them information; gesture1 (1)  (give/make a sign)  (Nobody move until I give the sign.) + tha  (Bruce made a sign that he was ready to leave.) sign for sb to do sth  (Three short blasts on the whistle was the sign for us to begin.) 4 »GIVES INFORMATION« a piece of paper, metal etc in a public place, with words or drawings on it that give people information, warn them not to do something etc  (road signs | a no smoking sign) 5 »PICTURE/SYMBOL« a picture, shape etc that has a particular meaning; symbol  (For some reason the computer can't display the dollar sign.) 6 »STAR SIGN« (countable also) also star sign a group of stars, representing one of 12 parts of the year, that some people believe influences your behaviour and your life  (I'm a Scorpio - what sign are you?) 7 »LANGUAGE« a language that uses hand movements instead of spoken words, used by people who cannot hear; sign language 8 sign of life a movement that shows that someone is alive, or something that shows that there are people in a particular place  (We entered the building with caution but strangely there was no sign of life.) 9 sign of the times something that shows how bad society has become  (So many houses have burglar alarms nowadays. It's a sign of the times I suppose.) 10 the sign of the Cross the hand movement that some Christians make in the shape of a cross, to show respect for God or to protect themselves from evil ~2 v 1 to write your signature on a letter or document to show that you wrote it, agree with it  (Sign here please. | sign sth)  (You forgot to sign the check! | Over a hundred people have signed the petition. | a signed photo of Paul McCartney | sign your name)  (The artist had signed his name in the corner of the painting.) 2 sign an agreement/treaty etc to show formally that you agree to do something, by signing a legal document  (Both presidents signed the treaty as part of the new peace plan. | sign sth with sb)  (France has just signed a new trade deal with Japan.) 3 if an organization such as a football team or music company signs someone, that person signs a contract agreeing to work for it  (CBS Records had signed her back in 1988 on a three-album contract.) 4 to try to tell someone something or ask them to do something by using signs and movements  (sign to sb to do sth)  (He was desperately signing to me to not mention anything about Jack. | sign for sb to do sth)  (She signed for us to go inside.) 5 all signed and sealed with all the necessary legal documents agreed and signed  (It'll all be signed and sealed by Friday, you can move in then.) 6 to use sign language  (The whole performance was signed (=translated into sign language) by a local interpreter.) - signer n sign sth away phr v to sign a document that gives your property or legal right to someone else  (She had signed away all claims to the house.) sign for sth phr v 1 to sign a document to prove that you have received something  (This is a registered letter, someone will have to sign for it.) 2 sign for Liverpool/Arsenal etc BrE to sign a contract agreeing to play for a particular football team sign in phr v 1 to write your name on a form, in a book etc when you enter a place such as a hotel, office or club  (Remember to sign in at reception.) 2 T sign someone in) to write someone else's name in a book so that they are allowed to enter a club that you are a member of sign off phr v 1 informal to end a radio or television programme by saying goodbye 2 to finish an informal letter by writing your name at the end of it  (It's getting late so I'll sign off now. Love, John.) sign on phr v 1 to sign a document agreeing to work for someone, especially as a soldier, sailor etc, or to persuade someone to do this  (He signed on as a soldier in the US army. | sign sb on)  (I went to the local recruiting office and was signed on for three years.) 2 BrE to state officially that you are unemployed by signing a form, so that you can get money from the government sign out phr v 1 to write your name in a book when you leave a place such as a hotel, office or club 2 T sign something out) to write your name on a form or in a book to show that you have taken or borrowed something  (Bernstein signed out a company car and drove to the meeting.) sign sth over phr v to sign an official document that gives your property or rights to someone else  (When he became ill, he signed his property in France over to his son.) sign up phr v 1 T usually passive if someone is signed up by an organization, they sign a contract agreeing to work for that organization  (Several well-established researchers have been signed up for the project.) 2 to arrange to take part in a course of study + for  (I'm thinking of signing up for the philosophy course this term.) sign up to do sth  (Over half the people who signed up to do engineering were women.) sign with sth phr v 1 AmE to sign a contract agreeing to play for a particular sports team 2 to sign a contract agreeing that a particular company has the right to record and sell your music