word-vault

{ "term": "sign", "partOfSpeech": "noun", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a2", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "an event, an action, a fact, etc. that shows that something exists, is happening or may happen in the future", "sensetop": "sign of somebody/somethingat a sign of somethingsign of doing somethingsign of somebody/something doing somethingsign (that)…", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Looking back, I should have **seen the signs**." }, { "text": "a **clear/visible sign**" }, { "text": "an **encouraging sign**" }, { "text": "a positive sign" }, { "text": "The fact that he didn't say ‘no’ immediately is a **good sign**." }, { "text": "If I had noticed the **warning signs**, none of this would have happened." }, { "text": "**Early signs** point to business improving." }, { "text": "This move will be seen as a **sign of weakness**.", "contextForm": "sign of somebody/something" }, { "text": "Bankers say they can definitely detect **signs of a recovery**." }, { "text": "Headaches may be a sign of stress." }, { "text": "There is no sign of John anywhere." }, { "text": "Soldiers swarmed the city **looking for** any **sign** of her." }, { "text": "There was no **sign of life** in the house *(= there seemed to be nobody there)*." }, { "text": "Her work is **showing some signs of** improvement." }, { "text": "I hope this incident isn't a sign of things to come." }, { "text": "Get this test if you have **signs and symptoms** of diabetes." }, { "text": "He is reading the signs all wrong." }, { "text": "Call the police at the first **sign of trouble**.", "contextForm": "at a sign of something" }, { "text": "The gloomy weather **shows no sign of** improving.", "contextForm": "sign of doing something" }, { "text": "There is **little sign** of this happening in the immediate future.", "contextForm": "sign of somebody/something doing something" }, { "text": "If an interview is too easy, it's **a sure sign that** you haven't got the job.", "contextForm": "sign (that)…" }, { "text": "There were no outward signs that anything was wrong." }, { "text": "All the outward signs of growth in the market are there." }, { "text": "All the signs pointed to it being more than just a coincidence." }, { "text": "Are appliances you buy safe? We point out the danger signs." }, { "text": "He spoke up without the slightest sign of nervousness." }, { "text": "His face betrayed no sign of emotion." }, { "text": "By now the fish was showing signs of distress." }, { "text": "I detected the subtle signs of disapproval." }, { "text": "He displayed the classic signs of post-traumatic stress disorder." }, { "text": "Look carefully for signs of damp." }, { "text": "The first signs of spring appeared." }, { "text": "Strong dislikes of foods are early signs of pregnancy." }, { "text": "the telltale signs of drug abuse" }, { "text": "The lack of interest in the media is a telling sign of the industry's health." }, { "text": "The murder had all the signs of a crime of passion." }, { "text": "We detected signs that they were less than enthusiastic about the holiday." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["classic", "clear", "definite"], "verb + sign": ["bear", "have", "betray"], "sign + verb": ["appear", "come", "indicate something"], "preposition": ["at a/the sign", "sign from", "sign of"], "phrases": [ "sign of life", "a sign of the times", "a sign of things to come" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "a piece of paper, wood or metal that has writing or a picture on it that gives you information, instructions, a warning, etc.", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "to **put up/post a sign**" }, { "text": "to **carry/hold a sign**" }, { "text": "a **street/stop sign**" }, { "text": "a shop/pub sign" }, { "text": "a traffic sign" }, { "text": "The sign read ‘No Fishing’." }, { "text": "The sign on the wall said ‘Now wash your hands’." }, { "text": "There was a 'Closed' sign in the window." }, { "text": "**Follow the signs** for the city centre." }, { "text": "Some of the marchers were holding up signs and placards." }, { "text": "He might as well have been wearing a sign saying ‘I am a tourist’." }, { "text": "Follow the road and you'll see signs for the turn-off." }, { "text": "He yelled at us for ignoring the stop sign." }, { "text": "Someone had put up a ‘For Sale’ sign." }, { "text": "The sign pointed down a narrow road." }, { "text": "This sign indicates that cycling is allowed." }, { "text": "signs warning against trespass" } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["flashing", "illuminated", "neon"], "verb + sign": ["erect", "hang", "hang out"], "sign + verb": [ "read something", "announce something", "proclaim something" ], "preposition": ["sign for", "sign to"] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "a movement or sound that you make to tell somebody something", "sensetop": "sign from somebodyas a sign of somethingsign to do somethingsign for somebody to do something", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "He **gave a** thumbs-up **sign** *(= to show approval/agreement)*." }, { "text": "She was waiting for some kind of sign from him.", "contextForm": "sign from somebody" }, { "text": "At a sign from her, the band would start to play." }, { "text": "He gave a slight bow as a sign of respect.", "contextForm": "as a sign of something" }, { "text": "She shook her head in a desperate sign to tell the child to remain silent.", "contextForm": "sign to do something" }, { "text": "She nodded as a sign for us to sit down.", "contextForm": "sign for somebody to do something" }, { "text": "Three blasts on the whistle was the sign for visitors to leave." }, { "text": "to make **the sign of the cross** *(= an act of moving one hand in the shape of a cross, done by Christians to show respect for God or by a priest to somebody/something)*" }, { "text": "She made a peace sign while having her picture taken." }, { "text": "The people regarded the earthquake as a sign from God." }, { "text": "They had to communicate through signs and grunts." }, { "text": "the sign for ‘woman’ in sign language" } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["rude", "peace", "thumbs-up"], "verb + sign": ["give (somebody)", "make", "communicate through"], "sign + noun": ["language", "system"], "preposition": ["sign for"], "phrases": ["make the sign of the cross"] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "a mark used to represent something, especially in mathematics", "sensetop": "sign for something", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "a plus/minus sign *(= +/−)*" }, { "text": "a dollar/pound sign *(= $/£)*" }, { "text": "the sign for ‘square root’", "contextForm": "sign for something" }, { "text": "I used the Chinese sign for ‘father’ instead of ‘uncle’." }, { "text": "The wizard drew some strange signs in the air with his wand." }, { "text": "What does this sign mean?" }, { "text": "a T-shirt with a peace sign on it" } ], "topics": ["Maths and measurement"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["dollar", "euro", "pound"], "verb + sign": ["draw", "use"], "sign + verb": ["mean something"], "preposition": ["sign for"] } }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "a star sign (= one of the twelve signs of the zodiac)", "labels": "(informal)", "examples": [ { "text": "What sign are you?" }, { "text": "Mars rules the zodiac sign of Aries." }, { "text": "people born under the sign of Gemini" }, { "text": "the twelve astrological signs" } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["birth", "star", "astrological"], "verb + sign": ["be born under"], "preposition": ["sign of"], "phrases": ["the signs of the Zodiac"] } }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "something that you feel shows what things are like now, especially how bad they are", "examples": [ { "text": "The increasing number of people owning guns is an alarming sign of the times." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/saɪn/", "audio": "si/sign/sign__gb_1.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/saɪn/", "audio": "si/sign/sign__us_1.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French signe (noun), signer (verb), from Latin signum ‘mark, token’." }