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"
a public display of a (usually written) message; "he posted signs in all the shop windows"
a character indicating a relation between quantities; "don't forget the minus sign"
a gesture that is part of a sign language
a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified; "The bond between the signifier and the signified is arbitrary"--de Saussure
(medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease; "there were no signs of asphyxiation"
be engaged by a written agreement; "He signed to play the casino on Dec. 18"; "The soprano signed to sing the new opera"
communicate in sign language; "I don't know how to sign, so I could not communicate with my deaf cousin"
mark with one's signature; write one's name (on); "She signed the letter and sent it off"; "Please sign here"
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"
place signs, as along a road; "sign an intersection"; "This road has been signed"
engage by written agreement; "They signed two new pitchers for the next season"
approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation; "All parties ratified the peace treaty"; "Have you signed your contract yet?"
either of two lines that connect a horse's harness to a wagon or other vehicle or to a whiffletree
an indication that something has been present; "there wasn't a trace of evidence for the claim"; "a tincture of condescension"
a visible mark (as a footprint) left by the passage of person or animal or vehicle
a just detectable amount; "he speaks French with a trace of an accent"
follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something; "We must follow closely the economic development is Cuba" ; "trace the student's progress"
make a mark or lines on a surface; "draw a line"; "trace the outline of a figure in the sand"
copy by following the lines of the original drawing on a transparent sheet placed upon it; make a tracing of; "trace a design"; "trace a pattern"
make one's course or travel along a path; travel or pass over, around, or along; "The children traced along the edge of the dark forest"; "The women traced the pasture"
to go back over again; "we retraced the route we took last summer"; "trace your path"
discover traces of; "She traced the circumstances of her birth"
a collection of books accepted as holy scripture especially the books of the Bible recognized by any Christian church as genuine and inspired
a complete list of saints that have been recognized by the Roman Catholic Church
a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field or art or philosophy; "the neoclassical canon"; "canons of polite society"
a contrapuntal piece of music in which a melody in one part is imitated exactly in other parts
(religion) sanctification of something by setting it apart (usually with religious rites) as dedicated to God; "the Cardinal attended the consecration of the church"
a solemn commitment of your life or your time to some cherished purpose (to a service or a goal); "his consecration to study"
transfer; "The spy sent the classified information off to Russia"
to cause or order to be taken, directed, or transmitted to another place; "He had sent the dispatches downtown to the proper people and had slept"
cause to go somewhere; "The explosion sent the car flying in the air"; "She sent her children to camp"; "He directed all his energies into his dissertation"
a method of surveying; the area is divided into triangles and the length of one side and its angles with the other two are measured, then the lengths of the other sides can be calculated
a trigonometric method of determining the position of a fixed point from the angles to it from two fixed points a known distance apart; useful in navigation