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1 VERB If an event, a sign, or a symbol signifies something, it is a sign of that thing or represents that thing. □ [V n] Fever accompanied by a runny nose usually signifies a cold. □ [V that] The symbol displayed outside a restaurant signifies there's excellent cuisine inside.

2 VERB If you signify something, you make a sign or gesture in order to communicate a particular meaning. □ [V n] Two jurors signified their dissent. □ [V that] The U.N. flag was raised at the airport to signify that control had passed into its hands.

sign|ing /sa I n I ŋ/ (signings )

1 N‑UNCOUNT The signing of a document is the act of writing your name to indicate that you agree with what it says or to say that you have been present to witness other people writing their signature. □ [+ of ] The agreement provided for the signing of a treaty within 3 months.

2 N‑COUNT A signing is someone who has recently signed a contract agreeing to play for a sports team or work for a record company. □  …the salary paid to the club's latest signing.

3 N‑UNCOUNT The signing of a player by a sports team or a group by a record company is the act of drawing up a legal document setting out the length and terms of the association between them. □ [+ of ] …Barcelona's signing of Brazilian Neymar.

4 N‑UNCOUNT Signing is the use of sign language to communicate with someone who is deaf. □  The two deaf actors converse solely in signing.

si gn lan|guage (sign languages ) N‑VAR Sign language is movements of your hands and arms used to communicate. There are several official systems of sign language, used for example by deaf people. Movements are also sometimes invented by people when they want to communicate with someone who does not speak the same language. □  Her son used sign language to tell her what happened.

sign|post /sa I npoʊst/ (signposts ) N‑COUNT A signpost is a sign where roads meet that tells you which direction to go in to reach a particular place or different places. □ [+ for ] Turn off at the signpost for Attlebridge.

sign|post|ed /sa I npoʊst I d/ ADJ A place or route that is signposted has signposts beside the road to show the way. □  The entrance is well signposted and is in Marbury Road.

Sikh /siː k/ (Sikhs ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A Sikh is a person who follows the Indian religion of Sikhism. □  The rise of racism concerns Sikhs because they are such a visible minority. □  …Sikh festivals.

Sikh|ism /siː k I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Sikhism is an Indian religion which separated from Hinduism in the sixteenth century and which teaches that there is only one God.

si|lage /sa I l I dʒ/ N‑UNCOUNT Silage is food for cattle that is made by cutting a crop such as grass or corn when it is green and then keeping it covered.

si|lence ◆◇◇ /sa I ləns/ (silences , silencing , silenced )

1 N‑VAR [oft in/of N ] If there is silence , nobody is speaking. □  They stood in silence. □  He never lets those long silences develop during dinner. □  Then he bellowed 'Silence!'

2 N‑UNCOUNT The silence of a place is the extreme quietness there. □  She breathed deeply, savouring the silence.

3 N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's silence about something is their failure or refusal to speak to other people about it. □  The district court ruled that Popper's silence in court today should be entered as a plea of not guilty. ● PHRASE If someone breaks their silence about something, they talk about something that they have not talked about before or for a long time. □ [+ about ] Gary decided to break his silence about his son's suffering in the hope of helping other families.

4 VERB To silence someone or something means to stop them speaking or making a noise. □ [V n] A ringing phone silenced her.