SIGNATURE
touch, signature
(noun) a distinguishing style; “this room needs a woman’s touch”
signature
(noun) a sheet with several pages printed on it; it folds to page size and is bound with other signatures to form a book
signature
(noun) your name written in your own handwriting
signature, signature tune, theme song
(noun) a melody used to identify a performer or a dance band or radio/tv program
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
signature (plural signatures)
A person's name, written by that person, used as identification or to signify approval of accompanying material, such as a legal contract.
An act of signing one's name; an act of producing a signature.
(medicine) The part of a doctor’s prescription containing directions for the patient.
(music) Signs on the stave indicating key and tempo, composed of the key signature and the time signature.
(printing) A group of four (or a multiple of four) sheets printed such that, when folded, they become a section of a book.
(computing) A pattern used for matching the identity of a virus, the parameter types of a method, etc.
(cryptography) Data attached to a message that guarantees that the message originated from its claimed source.
(figurative) A mark or sign of implication.
A dish that is characteristic of a particular chef.
(mathematics) A tuple specifying the sign of coefficients in any diagonal form of a quadratic form.
(medicine, obsolete) A resemblance between the external character of a disease and those of some physical agent, for instance, that existing between the red skin of scarlet fever and a red cloth; supposed to indicate this agent in the treatment of the disease.
(internet) Text (or images, etc.) appended to a user's emails, newsgroup posts, forum posts, etc. as a way of adding a personal touch. Email signatures often include extended contact information. Forum signatures often serve as a way for a user to express themselves (song lyrics, art, etc.).
Synonyms: sig, siggy
Hyponyms
• biosignature
Adjective
signature (not generally comparable, comparative more signature, superlative most signature)
Distinctive, characteristic, indicative of identity.
Anagrams
• antisurge, gauntries, sautering
Source: Wiktionary
Sig"na*ture, n. Etym: [F. (cf. It. signatura, segnatura, Sp. & LL.
signatura), from L. signare, signatum. See Sign, v. t.]
1. A sign, stamp, or mark impressed, as by a seal.
The brain, being well furnished with various traces, signatures, and
images. I. Watts.
The natural and indelible signature of God, which human souls . . .
are supposed to be stamped with. Bentley.
2. Especially, the name of any person, written with his own hand,
employed to signify that the writing which precedes accords with his
wishes or intentions; a sign manual; an autograph.
3. (Physiol.)
Definition: An outward mark by which internal characteristics were supposed
to be indicated.
Some plants bear a very evident signature of their nature and use.
Dr. H. More.
4. (Old Med.)
Definition: A resemblance between the external characters of a disease and
those of some physical agent, for instance, that existing between the
red skin of scarlet fever and a red cloth; -- supposed to indicate
this agent in the treatment of the disease.
5. (Mus.)
Definition: The designation of the key (when not C major, or its relative,
A minor) by means of one or more sharps or flats at the beginning of
the staff, immediately after the clef, affecting all notes of the
same letter throughout the piece or movement. Each minor key has the
same signature as its relative major.
6. (Print.)
(a) A letter or figure placed at the bottom of the first page of each
sheet of a book or pamphlet, as a direction to the binder in
arranging and folding the sheets.
(b) The printed sheet so marked, or the form from which it is
printed; as, to reprint one or more signatures.
Note: Star signatures (as A*, 1*) are the same characters, with the
addition of asterisks, used on the first pages of offcuts, as in 12mo
sheets.
7. (Pharm.)
Definition: That part of a prescription which contains the directions to
the patient. It is usually prefaced by S or Sig. (an abbreviation for
the Latin signa, imperative of signare to sign or mark).
Sig"na*ture, v. t.
Definition: To mark with, or as with, a signature or signatures.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition