signature

noun sig·na·ture \ˈsig-nə-ˌchu̇r, -chər, -ˌtyu̇r, -ˌtu̇r\

: a person's name written in that person's handwriting

: the act of signing something

: something (such as a quality or feature) that is closely associated with someone or something

Full Definition of SIGNATURE

a : the act of signing one's name to something

b : the name of a person written with his or her own hand

: a feature in the appearance or qualities of a natural object formerly held to indicate its utility in medicine

a : a letter or figure placed usually at the bottom of the first page on each sheet of printed pages (as of a book) as a direction to the binder in arranging and gathering the sheets

b : one unit of a book comprising a group of printed sheets that are folded and stitched together

a : key signature

b : time signature

: the part of a medical prescription that contains the directions to the patient

: something (as a tune, style, or logo) that serves to set apart or identify; also : a characteristic mark

: fingerprint 2

See signature defined for English-language learners

See signature defined for kids

Origin of SIGNATURE

Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French, from Medieval Latin signatura, from Latin signatus, past participle of signare to sign, seal

First Known Use: 1536

Related to SIGNATURE

Synonyms: autograph, hand, John Hancock

Rhymes with SIGNATURE

amateur, aperture, armature, blackamoor, carrefour, carte du jour, coinsure, commissure, confiture, connoisseur, coverture, curvature, cynosure, embouchure, epicure, filature, forfeiture, garniture, geniture, green-manure, haute couture, immature, insecure, ligature, manicure, overture, paramour, pedicure, plat du jour, portraiture, prelature, premature, quadrature, reassure, Reaumur, reinsure, saboteur, sepulture, sequitur, simon-pure, sinecure, soup du jour, tablature, temperature, to be sure, troubadour, white amur, Yom Kippur

SIGNATURE Defined for Kids

signature

noun sig·na·ture \ˈsig-nə-ˌchu̇r, -chər\

Definition of SIGNATURE for Kids

: the name of a person written by that person <Your signature is required on the form.>

: a sign or group of signs placed at the beginning of a staff in music to show the key (key signature) or the meter (time signature)

Medical Dictionary

signature

noun sig·na·ture \ˈsig-nə-ˌchu̇(ə)r, -chər, -ˌt(y)u̇(ə)r\

Medical Definition of SIGNATURE

: a feature in the appearance or qualities of a natural object formerly held to indicate its utility in medicine either because of a fancied resemblance to a body part (as a heart-shaped leaf indicating utility in heart disease) or because of a presumed relation to some phase of a disease (as the prickly nature of thistle indicating utility in case of a stitch in the side)

: the part of a medical prescription which contains the directions to the patient