A sign is a representation of an object that implies a connection between itself and its object. A natural sign bears a causal relation to its object—for instance, thunder is a sign of storm. A conventional sign signifies by agreement, as a full stop signifies the end of a sentence. (This is in contrast to a symbol which stands for another thing, as a flag may be a symbol of a nation).

Door sign

The way a sign signifies is called semiosis which is a topic of semiotics and philosophy of language.

How a sign is perceived depends upon what is intended or expressed in the semiotic relationship of:

• Signification
• Significance (i.e. meaning)
• Importance

Thus, for example, people may speak of the significance of events, the signification of characters, the meaning of sentences, or the import of a communication. Different ways of relating signs to their objects are called modes of signification.

Uses of conventional signs are varied. Usually the goal is to elicit a response or simply inform. That can be achieved by marking something, displaying a message (i.e. a notice), drawing attention or presenting evidence of an underlying cause (for instance, medical symptoms signify a disease), performing a bodily gesture, etc.

Noun

sign (plural signs)

1. (sometimes also used uncountably) A visible indication.

   Their angry expressions were a clear sign they didn't want to talk.

   Those clouds show signs of raining soon.

   Those clouds show little sign of raining soon.

   Signs of disease are objective, whereas symptoms are subjective.

2. A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.

   The sign in the window said "for rent".

3. A traffic sign.

   I missed the sign at the corner so I took the wrong turn.

4. A meaningful gesture.

   I gave them a thumbs-up sign.

5. Any of several specialized non-alphabetic symbols.

   The sharp sign indicates that the pitch of the note is raised a half step.

6. (astrology) An astrological sign.

   Your sign is Taurus? That's no surprise.

7. (mathematics) Positive or negative polarity.

   I got the magnitude right, but the sign was wrong.

8. A linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.

   What's the sign for "computer"?

9. (uncountable) sign language in general

   Sorry, I don't know sign very well.

10. An omen.

    "It's a sign of the end of the world," the doom prophet said.

11. (medicine) A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, is unlikely to be noticed by the patient.

Derived terms

• air sign
• astrological sign
• earth sign
• fire sign
• high sign
• plus sign
• minus sign
• neon sign

• road sign
• sign language
• signs of life
• star sign
• street sign
• traffic sign
• vital signs
• water sign

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