sign-off

[sahyn-awf, -of] /ˈsaɪnˌɔf, -ˌɒf/
noun
1.
the act or fact of signing off.
2.
personal approval or authorization; endorsement.
Also, signoff.
Origin
1925-30; noun use of verb phrase sign off

sign

[sahyn] /saɪn/
noun
1.
a token; indication.
2.
any object, action, event, pattern, etc., that conveys a meaning.
3.
a conventional or arbitrary mark, figure, or symbol used as an abbreviation for the word or words it represents.
4.
a motion or gesture used to express or convey an idea, command, decision, etc.:
Her nod was a sign that it was time to leave.
5.
a notice, bearing a name, direction, warning, or advertisement, that is displayed or posted for public view:
a traffic sign; a store sign.
6.
a trace; vestige:
There wasn't a sign of them.
7.
an arbitrary or conventional symbol used in musical notation to indicate tonality, tempo, etc.
8.
Medicine/Medical. the objective indications of a disease.
9.
any meaningful gestural unit belonging to a sign language.
10.
an omen; portent:
a sign of approaching decadence.
11.
sign of the zodiac.
12.
sign language (def 1).
13.
Usually, signs. traces, as footprints, of a wild animal.
14.
Mathematics.
  1. a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating addition or subtraction.
  2. a plus sign or minus sign used as a symbol for indicating the positive or negative value of a quantity, as an integer.
  3. multiplication sign.
  4. division sign.
  5. a symbol, as or !, used to indicate a radical or factorial operation.
verb (used with object)
15.
to affix a signature to:
to sign a letter.
16.
to write as a signature:
to sign one's name.
17.
to engage by written agreement:
to sign a new player.
18.
to mark with a sign, especially the sign of the cross.
19.
to communicate by means of a sign; signal:
He signed his wish to leave.
20.
to convey (a message) in a sign language.
21.
Obsolete. to direct or appoint by a sign.
verb (used without object)
22.
to write one's signature, as a token of agreement, obligation, receipt, etc.:
to sign for a package.
23.
to make a sign or signal:
He signed to her to go away.
24.
to employ a sign language for communication.
25.
to obligate oneself by signature:
He signed with another team for the next season.
Verb phrases
26.
sign away/over, to assign or dispose of by affixing one's signature to a document:
She signed over her fortune to the church.
27.
sign in, to record or authorize one's arrival (or departure) by signing a register.
Also, sign out.
28.
sign off,
  1. to withdraw, as from some responsibility or connection.
  2. to cease radio or television broadcasting, especially at the end of the day.
  3. Informal. to become silent:
    He had exhausted conversation topics and signed off.
  4. to indicate one's approval explicitly if not formally:
    The president is expected to sign off on the new agreement.
29.
sign on,
  1. to employ; hire.
  2. to bind oneself to work, as by signing a contract:
    He signed on as a pitcher with a major-league team.
  3. to start radio or television broadcasting, especially at the beginning of the day.
  4. Computers. log1 (def 17a).
30.
sign up, to enlist, as in an organization or group; to register or subscribe:
to sign up for the navy; to sign up for class.
Origin
1175-1225; (noun) Middle English signe < Old French < Latin signum mark, sign, ensign, signal, image; (v.) Middle English signen to mark with a sign, especially the sign of the cross < Old French signer < Latin signāre to mark with a sign, inscribe, affix a seal to, derivative of signum
Related forms
signless, adjective
signlike, adjective
postsign, verb (used with object)
unsigned, adjective
Can be confused
sign, sing (see synonym study at the current entry)
Synonyms
1. trace, hint, suggestion. 1, 4. signal. 10. indication, hint, augury. Sign, omen, portent name that which gives evidence of a future event. Sign is a general word for whatever gives evidence of an event—past, present, or future: Dark clouds are a sign of rain or snow. An omen is an augury or warning of things to come; it is used only of the future, in general, as good or bad: birds of evil omen. Portent, limited, like omen, to prophecy of the future, may be used of a specific event, usually a misfortune: portents of war.
Examples from the web for sign off
  • Then thank the committee for its consideration and sign off.
  • The applicant's department chair and dean must also sign off on the plan.
  • They read it, sign off on it, and then the hiring manager is free to make an offer.
  • Dean's secretary would write and get dean to sign off.
  • Many universities have boards sign off not only on capital budgets for athletics but operating budgets as well.
  • Don't blame the logo designer too much: think of all the people who had to sign off on the logo before it could be approved.
  • They were serving a useful purpose, some lawyers had been found to sign off on them, and that was that.
  • All too often, shareholders and board members sign off on management decisions without bothering to convince themselves.
  • The pilot only ever turns the fasten seat belt sign off to prevent a mutiny.
  • Don't sign off on anything yet, but get the busywork done.
British Dictionary definitions for sign off

sign off

verb (adverb)
1.
(intransitive) to announce the end of a radio or television programme, esp at the end of a day
2.
(intransitive) (bridge) to make a conventional bid indicating to one's partner that one wishes the bidding to stop
3.
(transitive) to withdraw or retire from (an activity)
4.
(transitive) (of a doctor) to declare (someone) unfit for work, because of illness
5.
(intransitive) (Brit) to terminate one's claim to unemployment benefit

sign

/saɪn/
noun
1.
something that indicates or acts as a token of a fact, condition, etc, that is not immediately or outwardly observable
2.
an action or gesture intended to convey information, a command, etc
3.
  1. a board, placard, etc, displayed in public and inscribed with words or designs intended to inform, warn, etc
  2. (as modifier): a sign painter
4.
an arbitrary or conventional mark or device that stands for a word, phrase, etc
5.
(maths, logic)
  1. any symbol indicating an operation: a plus sign, an implication sign
  2. the positivity or negativity of a number, quantity, or expression: subtraction from zero changes the sign of an expression
6.
an indication or vestige: the house showed no signs of being occupied
7.
a portentous or significant event
8.
an indication, such as a scent or spoor, of the presence of an animal
9.
(med) any objective evidence of the presence of a disease or disorder Compare symptom (sense 1)
10.
(astrology) Compare sign of the zodiac
verb
11.
to write (one's name) as a signature to (a document, etc) in attestation, confirmation, ratification, etc
12.
(intransitive) often foll by to. to make a sign; signal
13.
to engage or be engaged by written agreement, as a player for a team, etc
14.
(transitive) to outline in gestures a sign over, esp the sign of the cross
15.
(transitive) to indicate by or as if by a sign; betoken
16.
(intransitive) to use sign language
See also sign away, sign in, sign off, sign on, sign out, sign up
Derived Forms
signable, adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Old French signe, from Latin signum a sign
Contemporary definitions for sign off
verb

to announce the end of a broadcast or similar event; to stop doing something, such as work; to close a communication connection

noun

See signoff

Word Origin and History for sign off

sign

n.

early 13c., "gesture or motion of the hand," especially one meant to communicate something, from Old French signe "sign, mark," from Latin signum "identifying mark, token, indication, symbol; proof; military standard, ensign; a signal, an omen; sign in the heavens, constellation," according to Watkins, literally "standard that one follows," from PIE *sekw-no-, from root *sekw- (1) "to follow" (see sequel).

Ousted native token. Meaning "a mark or device having some special importance" is recorded from late 13c.; that of "a miracle" is from c.1300. Zodiacal sense in English is from mid-14c. Sense of "characteristic device attached to the front of an inn, shop, etc., to distinguish it from others" is first recorded mid-15c. Meaning "token or signal of some condition" (late 13c.) is behind sign of the times (1520s). In some uses, the word probably is a shortening of ensign. Sign language is recorded from 1847; earlier hand-language (1670s).

v.

c.1300, "to make the sign of the cross," from Old French signier "to make a sign (to someone); to mark," from Latin signare "to set a mark upon, mark out, designate; mark with a stamp; distinguish, adorn;" figuratively "to point out, signify, indicate," from signum (see sign (n.)). Sense of "to mark, stamp" is attested from mid-14c.; that of "to affix one's name" is from late 15c. Meaning "to communicate by hand signs" is recorded from 1700. Related: Signed; signing.

sign off in Medicine

sign (sīn)
n.

  1. See symptom.

  2. Something that suggests the presence or existence of a fact, condition, or quality.

  3. A trace or vestige, as of disease or life.

sign off in Science
sign
  (sīn)   

  1. A body manifestation, usually detected on physical examination or through laboratory tests or xrays, that indicates the presence of abnormality or disease. Compare symptom.

  2. See symbol. See Table at symbol.


Slang definitions & phrases for sign off

sign

Related Terms

the high sign


siff

Related Terms

syph


Idioms and Phrases with sign off

sign off

1.
Announce the end of a communication, especially a broadcast. For example, There's no one there now; the station has signed off for the night. [ c. 1920 ]
2.
Stop talking, become silent, as in Every time the subject of marriage came up, Harold signed off. [ ; mid-1900s ]
3.
Express approval formally or conclusively, as in The President got the majority leader to sign off on the tax proposal. This usage is colloquial.

sign

, see