signature

[sig-nuh-cher, -choo r] /ˈsɪg nə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər/
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
11.
serving to identify or distinguish a person, group, etc.:
a signature tune.
Origin
1525-35; < Medieval Latin signātūra a signing, equivalent to Latin signāt(us) past participle of signāre to mark (see sign, -ate1) + -ūra -ure
Related forms
signatureless, adjective
Examples from the web for signatures
  • After the signatures are folded and gathered, they move into the bindery.
  • One of the signatures of the genre is the guitar power chord.
  • Difficult key signatures and numerous accidentals were thus largely avoided.
British Dictionary definitions for signatures

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.
(US) the part of a medical prescription that instructs a patient how frequently and in what amounts he should take a drug or agent Abbreviation Sig, S
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
Word Origin
C16: from Old French, from Medieval Latin signātura, from Latin signāre to sign
Word Origin and History for signatures

signature

n.

1530s, a kind of document in Scottish law, from Middle French signature (16c.) or directly from Medieval Latin signatura "signature, a rescript," in classical Latin "the matrix of a seal," from signatus, past participle of signare "to mark with a stamp, sign" (see sign (v.)).

Meaning "one's own name written in one's own hand" is from 1570s, replacing sign-manual (early 15c.) in this sense. Musical sense of "signs placed it the beginning of a staff to indicate the key and rhythm" is from 1806. Meaning "a distinguishing mark of any kind" is from 1620s.

signatures in Medicine

signature sig·na·ture (sĭg'nə-chər)
n.
The part of a physician's prescription containing directions to the patient.