2 PHRASAL VERB When someone who has been unemployed signs off , they officially inform the authorities that they have found a job, so that they no longer receive money from the government. [BRIT ] □ [V P n] If you work without signing off the dole, you are breaking the law. [Also V P ]
▸ sign on PHRASAL VERB When an unemployed person signs on , they officially inform the authorities that they are unemployed, so that they can receive money from the government in order to live. [BRIT ] □ [V P prep] He has signed on at the job centre. □ [V P n] I had to sign on the dole on Monday.
▸ sign over PHRASAL VERB If you sign something over , you sign documents that give someone else property, possessions, or rights that were previously yours. □ [V P n] Two years ago, he signed over his art collection to the city's art museum. □ [V n P ] Last June, he closed his business voluntarily and signed his assets over to someone else.
▸ sign up PHRASAL VERB If you sign up for an organization or if an organization signs you up , you sign a contract officially agreeing to do a job or course of study. □ [V P + as ] He signed up as a steward with P&O Lines. □ [V n P ] He saw the song's potential, and persuaded the company to sign her up. [Also V P + for ]
sign|age /sa I n I dʒ/ N‑UNCOUNT Signage is signs, especially road signs and advertising signs, considered collectively. □ They don't allow signage around the stadium.
sig|nal ◆◇◇ /s I gnəl/ (signals , signalling , signalled ) in AM, use signaling , signaled 1 N‑COUNT A signal is a gesture, sound, or action which is intended to give a particular message to the person who sees or hears it. □ They fired three distress signals. □ As soon as it was dark, Mrs Evans gave the signal. □ You mustn't fire without my signal.
2 VERB If you signal to someone, you make a gesture or sound in order to send them a particular message. □ [V prep/adv] The United manager was to be seen frantically signalling to McClair. □ [V that] He stood up, signalling to the officer that he had finished with his client. □ [V n] She signalled a passing taxi and ordered him to take her to the rue Marengo. [Also V ]
3 N‑COUNT If an event or action is a signal of something, it suggests that this thing exists or is going to happen. □ [+ of ] Kurdish leaders saw the visit as an important signal of support.
4 VERB If someone or something signals an event, they suggest that the event is happening or likely to happen. □ [V n] She will be signalling massive changes in energy policy. □ [V wh] The outcome of the meeting could signal whether there is a political will to begin negotiating.
5 N‑COUNT A signal is a piece of equipment beside a railway, which indicates to train drivers whether they should stop the train or not.
6 N‑COUNT A signal is a series of radio waves, light waves, or changes in electrical current which may carry information. □ …high-frequency radio signals.
si g|nal box (signal boxes ) N‑COUNT A signal box is a small building near a railway, which contains the switches used to control the signals.
signal|man /s I gnəlmæn/ (signalmen ) N‑COUNT A signalman is a person whose job is to control the signals on a particular section of a railway.
sig|na|tory /s I gnətri, [AM ] -tɔːri/ (signatories ) N‑COUNT The signatories of an official document are the people, organizations, or countries that have signed it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of/to ] Both countries are signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
sig|na|ture /s I gnətʃə r / (signatures )
1 N‑COUNT Your signature is your name, written in your own characteristic way, often at the end of a document to indicate that you wrote the document or that you agree with what it says. □ I was writing my signature at the bottom of the page.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A signature item is typical of or associated with a particular person. [mainly JOURNALISM ] □ Rabbit stew is one of chef Giancarlo Moeri's signature dishes.
si g|na|ture tune (signature tunes ) N‑COUNT A signature tune is the tune which is always played at the beginning or end of a particular television or radio programme, or which people associate with a particular performer. [mainly BRIT ] □ Doesn't that sound like the signature tune from Doctor Who? in AM, usually use theme song
sign|board /sa I nbɔː r d/ (signboards ) N‑COUNT A signboard is a piece of wood which has been painted with pictures or words and which gives some information about a particular place, product, or event. □ The signboard outside the factory read 'baby milk plant'.
sign|er /sa I nə r / (signers ) N‑COUNT A signer is someone who communicates information to deaf people using sign language. □ I'm keen on providing signers for deaf people and readers for the blind.
sig|net ring /s I gnət r I ŋ/ (signet rings ) N‑COUNT A signet ring is a ring which has a flat oval or circular section at the front with a pattern or letters carved into it.
sig|nifi|cance /s I gn I f I kəns/ N‑UNCOUNT The significance of something is the importance that it has, usually because it will have an effect on a situation or shows something about a situation. □ [+ of ] Ideas about the social significance of religion have changed over time.
sig|nifi|cant ◆◆◇ /s I gn I f I kənt/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A significant amount or effect is large enough to be important or affect a situation to a noticeable degree. □ A small but significant number of 11-year-olds are illiterate. □ …foods that offer a significant amount of protein. ● sig|nifi|cant|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The number of MPs now supporting him had increased significantly.
2 ADJ A significant fact, event, or thing is one that is important or shows something. □ I think it was significant that he never knew his own father. ● sig|nifi|cant|ly ADV □ Significantly, the company recently opened a huge store in Atlanta. SYNONYMS significant ADJ 1