signature

[ sig-nuh-cher, -choor ]

noun

1. a person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.
2. the act of signing a document.
3. Music. a sign or set of signs at the beginning of a staff to indicate the key or the time of a piece.
4. Radio. a song, musical arrangement, sound effect, etc., used as a theme identifying a program.
5. any unique, distinguishing aspect, feature, or mark.
6. Medicine/Medical. that part of a written prescription that specifies directions for use.
7. Biology, Medicine/Medical. a distinctive characteristic or set of characteristics by which a biological structure or medical condition is recognized.
8. Also called section. Bookbinding. a printed sheet folded to page size for binding together, with other such sheets, to form a book, magazine, etc.
9. Printing.
   1. a letter or other symbol generally placed by the printer at the foot of the first page of every sheet to guide the binder in folding the sheets and in gathering them in sequence.
   2. a sheet so marked.
10. Chemistry, Physics. a characteristic trace or sign that indicates the presence of a substance or the occurrence of a physical process or event:

    The satellite recorded a spectrum that is the signature of a nuclear explosion.

adjective

1. serving to identify or distinguish a person, group, etc.:

   a signature tune.

signature

/ ˈsɪɡnɪtʃə /

noun

1. the name of a person or a mark or sign representing his name, marked by himself or by an authorized deputy
2. the act of signing one's name
3. 1. a distinctive mark, characteristic, etc, that identifies a person or thing
   2. ( as modifier )

      a signature fragrance

4. music See key signature time signature
5. the part of a medical prescription that instructs a patient how frequently and in what amounts he should take a drug or agent AbbreviationSigS
6. printing
   1. a sheet of paper printed with several pages that upon folding will become a section or sections of a book
   2. such a sheet so folded
   3. a mark, esp a letter, printed on the first page of a signature

Other Words From

• signa·ture·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of signature¹

1525–35; < Medieval Latin signātūra a signing, equivalent to Latin signāt ( us ) past participle of signāre to mark ( sign, -ate ¹ ) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of signature¹

C16: from Old French, from Medieval Latin signātura, from Latin signāre to sign

Example Sentences

Recently Ray spoke to The Times about how his signature live show started as a gag to maximize the usage of exceptional makeup and turned Ray into an “advice”-giving, viral sensation.

From Los Angeles Times

An online petition he started to oppose Chuckwalla has more than 2,200 signatures.

From Los Angeles Times

He is an intellectual educated at Oxford University, is never seen without his signature slim, rectangular glasses and has been dubbed "Mr Digital" thanks to his pledge to whip Ghana into a technological heavyweight.

From BBC

The 68-year-old was known for his political theatrics - one of his signature moves involved hurling bananas as a sign of protest.

From BBC

“We wanted to see if there was a genetic signature of that on the landscape,” she says.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• autograph
• identification
• ink
• name
• seal
• stamp
• trademark