Flag vs Sign - What's the difference?
flag | sign |
A piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol.
An exact representation of a flag (for example: a digital one used in websites).
(nautical) A flag flown by a ship to show the presence on board of the admiral; the admiral himself, or his flagship.
(nautical, often used attributively) A signal flag.
The use of a flag, especially to indicate the start of a race or other event.
(computer science) A variable or memory location that stores a true-or-false, yes-or-no value, typically either recording the fact that a certain event has occurred or requesting that a certain optional action take place.
(computer science) In a command line interface, a command parameter requesting optional behavior or otherwise modifying the action of the command being invoked.
(British) An abbreviation for capture the flag.
To furnish or deck out with flags.
To mark with a flag, especially to indicate the importance of something.
* {{quote-news
, year=2011
, date=January 8
, author=Chris Bevan
, title=Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds
, work=BBC
To signal to, especially to stop a passing vehicle etc.
To convey (a message) by means of flag signals.
To note, mark or point out for attention.
(computing) To signal (an event).
(computing) To set a program variable to true .
To weaken, become feeble.
* Jonathan Swift
* {{quote-news
, year=2012
, date=December 29
, author=Paul Doyle
, title=Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle
, work=The Guardian
To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down, as flexible bodies; to be loose, yielding, limp.
* T. Moore
To let droop; to suffer to fall, or let fall, into feebleness.
To enervate; to exhaust the vigour or elasticity of.
* Echard
Any of various plants with sword-shaped leaves, especially irises; specifically, Iris pseudacorus .
* before 1899 , Robert Seymour Bridges, There is a Hill :
A slice of turf; a sod.
A slab of stone; a flagstone, a flat piece of stone used for paving.
(geology) Any hard, evenly stratified sandstone, which splits into layers suitable for flagstones.
To lay down flagstones.
* Fred is planning to flag his patio this weekend.
A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc.
A group of elongated wing feathers in certain hawks.
The bushy tail of a dog such as a setter.
(music) A hook attached to the stem of a written note that assigns its rhythmic value
(sometimes, also used uncountably) A visible indication.
*
, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5
, passage=Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.}}
A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.
* Macaulay
A traffic sign.
A meaningful gesture.
Any of several specialized non-alphabetic symbols.
(astrology) An astrological sign.
(mathematics) Positive or negative polarity.
A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.
*, II.12:
* 2007 , Marcel Danesi, The Quest for Meaning :
(uncountable) Sign language in general.
An omen.
(medicine) A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, is unlikely to be noticed by the patient.
A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.
To make a mark
#
#:The Queen signed her letter with the regal signet.
# To mark, to put or leave a mark on.
#*1726 , Elijah Fenton, The Odyssey of Homer :
#*:Meantime revolving in his thoughtful mind / The scar, with which his manly knee was sign'd […].
# To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it.
#*c. 1597 , (William Shakespeare), The Merchant of Venice :
#*:Enquire the Iewes house out, giue him this deed, / And let him signe it […].
# More generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc.
#
#:Just sign your name at the bottom there.
#:I received a letter from some woman who signs herself ‘Mrs Trellis’.
# To write one's signature.
# To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc.
#*2011 , The Guardian , (headline), 18 Oct 2011:
#*:Agents say Wales back Gavin Henson has signed for Cardiff Blues.
# To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract.
To make the sign of the cross
# To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross.
#* Book of Common Prayer
#*:We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock, and do sign him with the sign of the cross.
#*1971 , , Religion and the Decline of Magic , Folio Society 2012, p. 34:
#*:At the baptismal ceremony the child was […] signed with the cross in holy water.
# (reflexive) To cross oneself.
#*1855 , (Robert Browning), Men and Women :
#*:Shaking a fist at him with one fierce arm, / Signing himself with the other because of Christ.
To indicate
# To communicate using a gesture or signal.
#* Sir Walter Scott:
# To communicate using gestures to (someone).
#:He signed me that I should follow him through the doorway.
# To use sign language.
# To furnish (a road etc.) with signs.
As nouns the difference between flag and sign
is that flag is a piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol or flag can be any of various plants with sword-shaped leaves, especially irises; specifically, iris pseudacorus or flag can be a slice of turf; a sod or flag can be a group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc while sign is (sometimes|also used uncountably) a visible indication.As verbs the difference between flag and sign
is that flag is to furnish or deck out with flags or flag can be to weaken, become feeble or flag can be to lay down flagstones while sign is to make a mark.flag
English
(commons)Etymology 1
From (etyl) flag, . More at (l), (l).Noun
(en noun)Synonyms
* Boolean * switchDerived terms
* antiflag * false flag * flagkini * freak flag * raise a flag * show the flag * white flagVerb
(flagg)citation, page= , passage=Walcott was, briefly, awarded a penalty when he was upended in the box but referee Phil Dowd reversed his decision because Bendtner had been flagged offside. }}
- Please flag down a taxi for me.
- to flag an order to troops or vessels at a distance
- I've flagged up the need for further investigation into this.
- Users of the Internet forum can flag others' posts as inappropriate.
- The compiler flagged three errors.
- Flag the debug option before running the program.
See also
* banner * colour * ensign * jack * pennant * standard * vexillologyVerb
(flagg)- His strength flagged toward the end of the race.
- The pleasures of the town begin to flag .
citation, page= , passage=The sides took it in turns to err and excite before Newcastle flagged and Arsenal signalled their top-four credentials by blowing the visitors away. }}
- as loose it [the sail] flagged around the mast
- to flag the wings
- (Prior)
- Nothing so flags the spirits.
Etymology 3
Of uncertain origin; compare Danish .Noun
(en noun)- And laden barges float
- By banks of myosote;
- And scented flag and golden flower-de-lys
- Delay the loitering boat.
Derived terms
* sweet flagEtymology 4
Probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic flagNoun
(en noun)Verb
(flagg)Etymology 5
Noun
(en noun)sign
English
(wikipedia sign)Etymology 1
From (etyl) signe, from (etyl) ; root uncertain.Noun
(en noun)- The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs , which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.
- And why not, as well as our dumbe men dispute, argue and tell histories by signes ?
- In American Sign Language (ASL), for instance, the sign for 'catch' is formed with one hand (in the role of agent) moving across the body (an action) to grasp the forefinger of the other hand (the patient).
- (Milton)
Derived terms
* air sign * astrological sign * earth sign * fire sign * high sign * Indian sign * minus sign * neon sign * plus sign * road sign * sign language * sign of life * star sign * street sign * traffic sign * vital sign * water signEtymology 2
From (etyl) (seigner), (seiner) et al., (etyl) signer et al., and their source, (etyl) ; see Etymology 1, above. Compare (sain).Verb
(en verb)- I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
- Please sign on the dotted line.
- It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
- I signed to Browne to make his retreat.