1866
programme, or
one that is connected with a particular performer ( fefl, rjfrff @
-lftlJc£±#A£#7i S Sfe W ) # ft , JF $n ft , ^ ft — compare theme
music
sigh-board /'sainbaid;
NAmE -bo:rd/ noun a piece of wood that has some
information on it, such as a name, and is displayed outside a shop/store,
hotel, etc. ( fgf
b, 69) mm, r^m
sig net
ring /'signat rirj/ noun a ring with a design cut into it, that you wear on
your finger if} — pic
ture O JEWELLERY
sig-nifi-cance /sig'mfikans/
noun [U, C] 1 the importance of sth,
especially when this has an effect on what happens in the future ( ) S^'14,
MX: cl decision of major political
significance S A
O The new drug has
great significance for the treatment of the disease,
W
fi X
(ft S: X o O They
discussed the statistical significance of the results. f]
— compare insignificance
at insignificant sig-nifi-cant 0-w /sig'mfikant/
adj.
1
large or
important enough to have an effect or to be noticed # S. A & X (ft ; £ H (ft : a
highly significant discovery M MXM X$) 0
The results of the experi
ment are not statistically
significant. M. it # (ft M & If, O There are no significant
differences
between the two groups of students.
A A Wil It ^'Jo o Your
work has shown a significant improvement. 0 It is
significant
that girls
generally do better in examinations than boys. fgBJlfi, —compare
insignificant 2 having
a particular meaning X(ft: It
is.significant that he changed his will only days before his death, ftfc £ If® %-mJi X& gfc it 1,
IF]Mo 3 [usually before noun] having a special
or secret meaning that is not understood by everyone jjiJIf #X (ft; itAifAfft ESId meaningful: a significant look/ smile
.significant 'figure noun (mathematics
%0 each of the digits in a number that are needed in order to give it
accurately
sig nifi
cantly tHf /sig'mfikantli/
adv.
1 in a way that is large or important enough to have
an effect on sth or to be noticed |f3iAI£Xi&;
0f]
Jli& : The two sets of
figures are not significantly different. 0 0 Profits have
increased
significantly over the past few years. Jl AA, f ij M X ft: ^ iSi T o 2 in a way that has a
particular meaning Significantly, he did not deny
that there might be an
election. ft#j£j|t£ft;ib,. fife&W
Ff 3 in a way that has a special or
secret
meaning #1]
WX
significantly before
she answered.
m&mj-To
significant
’other noun (often humorous) your husband,
wife, partner or sb that you have a special relationship with ( inBB4S, IfA,
MX )
sig ni
fi ca tion: /.sigmfi'keijn/ noun {formal or linguistics in W) [U, C] the exact meaning of sth,
especially a word or phrase (tIMIM)!! MM,
MX
sig-ni-fied /'sigmfaid/
noun (linguistics iffg) the meaning
expressed by a linguistic sign,
rather than its form ) — compare signifier
sig-ni-fier /'sigmfai0(r)/
noun {linguistics i§ If)
the form of a linguistic sign,
for example its sound or its printed form, rather than the meaning it expresses
fflfe ( T§W#%£ftA3$ ) —
compare signified
sig-nify /'sigmfai/
verb (sig-ni-fies, sig ni fy ing, sig ni
fied, sig-ni-fied) {format) 1 to be
a sign of sth iftfff]; ®
A HT1 mean : [VN] This decision signified a radical change in their
policies. 7 ffeAl (ft
A
flt A (ft $ ft. <> 0 [V that] This mark
signifies that the
products
conform to an approved standard, A
ft A
BJ
& # M tS k'a m ® ft ft A o 0 The
white belt signifies that he’s an absolute beginner.
T-o
2 to do sth to make your feelings, intentions, etc. known ) : [VN] She
signified her
approval with a smile. 0
2
[V that] He nodded to signify that he agreed. ftfe A XX
A
IF] M o 3 [V] (usually used in
questions or negative sentences to
be important or
to matter ^ it H 14; ic % : His
presence no longer signified.
sign ing /'sainm/ noun 1 [U] the act of
writing your name at the end of an official document to show that you accept it : the signing of the
Treaty of
just signed a contract to
join a particular sports team or record or film company ( Pe AI^Ak]
ft ) 3 [U] the act of making an
official contract that arranges
for sb to join a sports team or a record or film company
( $timxtox&mx ) 4[u]the
act of using sign language
T ^ if ^ : the use of
signing in
classrooms
^^i|f^Tijl:±lft{i^]
'sign language noun [U, C] a system of
communicating with people who cannot hear, by using hand movements rather than
spoken words sign-post /'sainpaust; NAmE -poust/ noun, verb si noun a sign at the side of a
road giving information about the direction and distance of places j$r : Follow
the signposts to the superstore. H 5$- If ^ St It i'J JS rh o 0 {figurative) The chapter headings are useful signposts to
the content of the book.
45Wl*l#o
» verb [VN] (BrE) 1 [usually passive] to
mark a road, place, etc. with signposts g : The
route is well signposted. 2 to
show clearly
the way that an argument, a
speech, etc. will develop . jfM
( t&ijE. You
need to signpost for
the reader the
various points you are going to make.
► signposting
noun [U]
sign-writer /'sainraita(r)/ (also 'sign painter) noun a person who paints signs and
advertisements for shops/ stores and businesses M IS m 0 ; 'sign
writing noun [U]
Sikh /silk/ noun a member of a religion
(called Sikhism) that developed in
m (15 ttt£iM/=£^#is#it!iix,
sil-age /'sailid3/ noun [U] grass or other green
crops that are stored without being dried and are used to feed farm animals in
winter
si lence Otw /'sailans/ noun,
verb, exclamation m noun 1 [U] a complete lack of noise or sound ;
fcfi Egn quiet:
Their footsteps echoed in the silence.
+ O A scream broke the
silence of the
night. ^ X W[ ^l] ® 7 & # ^ ^ Bfc 0
<>
3
need
absolute silence when I’m working. 3% I Bt W
4
[C, U] a situation when nobody is speaking
'tfLik; an embarrassed/
awkward
silence MM/ lliMklftlftiR o a moment’s stunned
silence —
0t']^f“:f#i^7;i±i^5(t o I got used to his
long silences. HcB 5Tlg7ffe^AAi£i£lft#To 0 They
finished their meal in total silence. #,7]
fko 0
She lapsed into silence again. MX^i^T3[t0
b There was a deafening silence (= one that is very
noticeable). 0 a two-minute
silence
in honour of those
who had died Tf^EAlft 3 [U, sing.] ~ (on sth) a situation in which sb
refuses to talk about sth or to answer questions 1g$M;
Tfi
£6 0 ^: She broke her
public silence in a TV interview.
A ^ ^ o o The
company’s silence on the subject
has been taken as an
admission of guilt. f£ If-#X,
<>
the right to
silence (= the legal right not
to say anything when you