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Sign vs Up - What's the difference?

sign | up |

As verbs the difference between sign and up

is that sign is to make a mark while up is to upturn, to turn over.

As a noun sign

is (sometimes|also used uncountably) a visible indication.

sign

English

(wikipedia sign)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) signe, from (etyl) ; root uncertain.

Noun

(en noun)
  • (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
  • The shops were, therefore, distinguished by painted signs , which gave a gay and grotesque aspect to the streets.
  • 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:
  • And why not, as well as our dumbe men dispute, argue and tell histories by signes ?
  • * 2007 , Marcel Danesi, The Quest for Meaning :
  • 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).
  • (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.
  • (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 sign

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (seigner), (seiner) et al., (etyl) signer et al., and their source, (etyl) ; see Etymology 1, above. Compare (sain).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • 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.
  • I forgot to sign that letter to my aunt.
  • #
  • #: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.
  • Please sign on the dotted line.
  • # 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.
  • It was a great month. I managed to sign three major players.
  • 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:
  • I signed to Browne to make his retreat.
  • # 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.
  • Derived terms
    * sign in * signing bonus * sign off * sign on * sign over * sign out * sign up * sign one's life away

    Anagrams

    *

    up

    English

    (part of speech is dubious for many senses) (wikipedia up)

    Adverb

    (-)
  • Away from the centre of the Earth or other planet; in opposite direction to the downward pull of gravity.
  • I looked up and saw the airplane overhead.
  • (intensifier) (Used as an aspect marker to indicate a completed action or state) Thoroughly, completely.
  • I will mix up the puzzle pieces.
    Tear up the contract.
    He really messed up .
    Please type up our monthly report.
  • To or from one's possession or consideration.
  • I picked up some milk on the way home.
    The committee will take up your request.
    She had to give up her driver's license after the accident.
  • North.
  • I will go up to New York to visit my family this weekend.
  • To a higher level of some quantity or notional quantity, such as price, volume, pitch, happiness, etc.
  • Gold has gone up with the uncertainty in the world markets.
    Turn it up , I can barely hear it.
    Listen to your voice go up at the end of a question.
    Cheer up , the weekend's almost here.
  • (rail transport) Traditional term for the direction leading to the principal terminus, towards milepost zero.
  • (sailing) Against the wind or current.
  • (Cartesian graph) In a positive vertical direction.
  • (cricket) Relatively close to the batsman.
  • The bowler pitched the ball up .
  • (hospitality) Without additional ice.
  • Would you like that drink up or on ice?
  • (UK, academia) Towards Cambridge or Oxford.
  • She's going up to read Classics this September.
  • * 1867 , John Timbs, Lives of wits and humourists , p. 125
  • The son of the Dean of Lichfield was only three years older than Steele, who was a lad of only twelve, when at the age of fifteen, Addison went up to Oxford.
  • * 1998 , Rita McWilliams Tullberg, Women at Cambridge , p. 112
  • Others insinuated that women 'crowded up to Cambridge', not for the benefits of a higher education, but because of the proximity of 2,000 young men.
  • * 2002 , Peter Harman, Cambridge Scientific Minds , p. 79
  • A precocious mathematician, Babbage was already well versed in the Continental mathematical notations when he went up to Cambridge.
  • To or in a position of equal advance or equality; not short of, back of, less advanced than, away from, etc.; usually followed by to'' or ''with .
  • I was up to my chin in water.
    A stranger came up and asked me for directions.
  • To or in a state of completion; completely; wholly; quite.
  • Drink up . The pub is closing.
    Can you sum up your research?
    The comet burned up in the atmosphere.
    I need to sew up the hole in this shirt.
  • Aside, so as not to be in use.
  • to lay up''' riches; put '''up your weapons

    Antonyms

    * (away from the centre of the Earth) down * (louder) down * (higher in pitch) down * (towards the principal terminus) down

    Derived terms

    * all it's cracked up to be * back up * backup * bottoms up * bottom-up * blow up * break up * buck up * build up * burn up * clog up * cloud up * clean up * clear up * close up * crack up * cut up * double up * dress up * dry up * eat up * finish up * gang up * gang up on * go up * kick up * knock up * lash up * let up * look up * lookup * muck up * one-up * one-upmanship * open up * polish up * run up * runner up * runup * shake up * shoot up * show up * shut up * stir up * stop up * turn up * up a tree * up to * up to it * upon * upper * uppity * upto * upward * upwards * walkup * wet up * work up * write up

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Toward the top of.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=Judge Short had gone to town, and Farrar was off for a three days' cruise up the lake. I was bitterly regretting I had not gone with him when the distant notes of a coach horn reached my ear, and I descried a four-in-hand winding its way up the inn road from the direction of Mohair.}}
  • Toward the center, source, or main point of reference; toward the end at which something is attached.
  • Further along (in any direction).
  • From south to north of
  • * 2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/nyregion/new-jersey-continues-to-cope-with-hurricane-sandy.html?hp]," New York Times (retrieved 31 October 2012):
  • Though the storm raged up the East Coast, it has become increasingly apparent that New Jersey took the brunt of it.

    Antonyms

    * (toward the top of) down

    Derived terms

    * give up * pick up * put up * ring up * take up * throw up * up a creek * up someone's alley

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Awake.
  • I can’t believe it’s 3 a.m. and you’re still up .
  • Finished, to an end
  • Time is up !
  • In a good mood.
  • I’m feeling up today.
  • Willing; ready.
  • If you are up for a trip, let’s go.
  • Next in a sequence.
  • Smith is up to bat.
  • Happening; new.
  • What is up with that project at headquarters?
  • Facing upwards; facing toward the top.
  • Put the notebook face up on the table.
    Take a break and put your feet up .
  • Larger, greater in quantity.
  • Sales are up from last quarter.
  • Standing.
  • Get up and give her your seat.
  • On a higher level.
  • * 1925 , Walter Anthony and Tom Reed (titles), , silent movie
  • The Phantom! The Phantom is up from the cellars again!’
  • Available; made public.
  • The new notices are up as of last Tuesday.
  • Well-informed; current.
  • I’m not up on the latest news. What’s going on?
  • (computing) Functional; working.
  • Is the server back up ?
  • (of a railway line or train) Traveling towards a major terminus.
  • The London train is on the up line.
  • Headed, or designated to go, upward, as an escalator, stairway, elevator etc.
  • (bar tending) Chilled and strained into a stemmed glass.
  • A Cosmopolitan is typically served up .
  • (slang) Erect.
  • (of the Sun or Moon) Above the horizon, in the sky (i.e. during daytime or night-time)
  • * 1898 , , (Moonfleet) Chapter 4
  • I have said I was still in darkness, yet it was not the blackness of the last night; and looking up into the inside of the tomb above, I could see the faintest line of light at one corner, which showed the sun was up .
  • (slang, graffiti) well-known; renowned
  • * 1996 , Matthew Busby Hunt, The Sociolinguistics of Tagging and Chicano Gang Graffiti (page 71)
  • Being "up" means having numerous graffiti in the tagging landscape.
  • * 2009 , Gregory J. Snyder, Graffiti Lives: Beyond the Tag in New York's Urban Underground (pages 16-40)
  • Graffiti writers want their names seen by writers and others so that they will be famous. Therefore writers are very serious about any opportunity to “get up'.” The throw-up became one of the fundamental techniques for getting ' up , and thereby gaining recognition and fame.
  • * 2011 , Adam Melnyk, Visual Orgasm: The Early Years of Canadian Graffiti
  • From his great rooftop pieces, selected for high visibility, to his sneaky tags and fun loving stickers, he most certainly knows how to get up .

    Antonyms

    * (facing upwards) down * (on a higher level) down * down * (traveling towards a major terminus) down

    Derived terms

    * know which end is up * up and running * up for grabs * upside * upside down

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (uncountable) The direction opposed to the pull of gravity.
  • Up is a good way to go.
  • (countable) A positive thing.
  • I hate almost everything about my job. The only up is that it's so close to home.
  • An upstairs room of a two story house.
  • She lives in a two-up two-down.

    Usage notes

    * Up is not commonly used as object of a preposition.

    Antonyms

    * (direction opposed to the pull of gravity) down

    Derived terms

    * ups and downs

    Verb

    (upp)
  • (colloquial) To increase or raise.
  • If we up the volume, we'll be able to make out the details.
    We upped anchor and sailed away.
  • *
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=December 10 , author=Marc Higginson , title=Bolton 1 - 2 Aston Villa , work=BBC Sport citation , passage=After a dreadful performance in the opening 45 minutes, they upped their game after the break and might have taken at least a point from the match.}}
  • (colloquial) To promote.
  • It wasn’t long before they upped him to Vice President.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • To act suddenly, usually with another verb.
  • He just upped and quit.
    He upped and punched that guy.
  • * 1991 , (Michael Jackson),
  • And she didn't leave a letter, she just upped and ran away.

    Synonyms

    * (increase) turn up

    Derived terms

    * up and * up and go * up and leave * up the ante * up the game

    References

    * Andrea Tyler and Vyvyan Evans, "Spatial particles of orientation", in The Semantics of English Prepositions: Spatial Scenes, Embodied Meaning and Cognition , Cambridge University Press, 2003, 0-521-81430 8

    Statistics

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