1291 Silicon Valley
sign·ing /'saɪnɪŋ/ n BrE someone who has just signed a contract to play or perform, especially in football: McGregor, our latest signing, will play his first game next Saturday.
'sign ,language n [U] a system of hand movements for expressing meanings, especially as used by DEAF people. Although people in the UK and the US speak a similar form of the same language, the British and American forms of sign language are very different from each other.
Si·gnor /si:'njɔːr , 'siːnjɔː/ n pl. Signori /si:'njɔːri/ the usual title used before a man's name in Italian-speaking countries, similar to 'Mr': Signor Francatelli
Si·gno·ra /si:'njɔːrə/ n pl. Signore /-reɪ/ the usual title used before a woman's name, especially a married woman, in Italian-speaking countries, similar to 'Mrs': Signora Ricci | Good morning, Signora.
Si·gno·re /si:'njɔːreɪ/ n 1 pl. Signori /-ri/ a title used to speak to or about an Italian-speaking man when you do not use his name: Good morning, Signore. 2 the plural form of SIGNORA
Si·gno·ri·na /ˌsinjɔː'riːnæl-nə-/ n pl. Signorine /-neɪ/ the usual title for a young unmarried woman in an Italian-speaking country, similar to 'Miss': Signorina Francatelli
sign·post¹ /'saɪnpəʊst/ n a sign showing directions and distances, especially at a place where roads meet: follow the signposts | The signpost said 'Bedford 2 miles'.
signpost
signpost² v [T] especially BrE 1 [usually pass.] to provide with signposts to guide the driver: These country roads aren't very well signposted. 2 to show clearly and unmistakably: They have signposted their conclusions in the report.
Si·ha·nouk, King Nor·o·dom /'siːənʊk, ˌnɔrə'dɒm‖ˌnɔːrə'dɑːm/ (1922-) the leader of Cambodia at various times during the period from 1941. He was forced by the Khmer Rouge to leave Cambodia in 1979, but he returned in 1991, and has been ruler of the country since then.
Sikes, Bill /saɪks/ a character in the book OLIVER TWIST by Charles DICKENS. He is a violent thief who murders his girlfriend, Nancy.
Sikh /siːk/ n a member of an Indian religious group that was started in N India by Guru NANAK in the 16th century. Sikhs believe in a single God. Traditionally, male Sikhs do not cut their hair, and they are known for wearing TURBANS and having beards. There are many Sikhs living in the UK.
Sikh·is·m /'siːkzəm/ n [U] the religion of the Sikhs
si·lage /'saɪlɪdʒ/ n [U] grass or other plants cut and stored in a SILO away from air for preservation as winter food for cattle
si·lence¹ /'saɪləns/ n 1 [U] absence of sound; complete quiet: There was nothing but silence in the empty house. | The silence was broken by a loud cry. 2 [U] the state of not speaking or making a noise: She received the bad news in silence. | Her forceful arguments reduced her opponents to silence. (=they could not reply) 3 [U(on)] failure to mention a particular thing, especially when unexpected or difficult to explain: I can't understand the government's silence on such an important matter. 4 [U] failure to write a letter, to telephone etc: After two years' silence he suddenly got in touch with us again. 5 [C] a moment or period of any of these conditions: We observed a one-minute silence in memory of the war dead. | His offensive remarks were followed by an embarrassed silence. | There were long unexplained silences between her letters. 6 silence is golden saying it is good to be completely quiet → see also CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE
silence² v [T] 1 to cause or force to stop making a noise: He silenced the noisy children with a fierce look. | The enemy's guns were silenced (=prevented from firing) by repeated bombings. 2 to force to stop expressing opinions, making opposing statements etc: The president silenced his opponents by having them put in prison.
Silence of the 'Lambs, The (1990) an extremely frightening US film in which Jodie FOSTER and Sir Anthony HOPKINS appear. The film tells the story of a young policewoman and a man called Hannibal Lecter who kills people and then eats them.
si·lenc·er /'saɪlənsər/ n an apparatus for reducing noise, such as a) a part for fitting round the end of the barrel of a small gun b) BrE || muffler AmE → a part of a petrol engine which fits onto the EXHAUST pipe (=where burnt gases come out)
si·lent /'saɪlənt/ adj 1 free from noise; quiet: the silent hours of the night | The old house was quite silent. | When it is operating, this dishwasher is almost silent. 2 not speaking or using spoken expression: a silent prayer | silent reading 3 [(on)] making no statement; failing or refusing to express an opinion, decision etc: The law is silent on this difficult point. | If you are arrested you have a right to remain silent. 4 (of a letter in a word) not having a sound; not pronounced: The 'w' in 'wreck' is silent. 5 silent as the grave completely silent, perhaps suggesting mystery →-ly adv
silent 'film also silent BrE infml || silent 'movie especially AmE → n a film with no sound, especially a black and white film made before 1927 → compare TALKIE
CULTURAL NOTE Silent films starred (STAR) people such as Charlie CHAPLIN, Buster KEATON, and Rudolph VALENTINO. People's movements in them appear sudden and not at all smooth. A few words appeared on the screen to help people follow the story, and a piano was usually played in the cinema when they were shown.
silent ma'jority n [the] especially AmE most of the people in a country, thought of as quietly accepting and supporting the actions of the government
Silent 'Night a well-known CAROL (=a traditional religious song sung at Christmas), which was originally written in German
silent 'partner n AmE for SLEEPING PARTNER
sil·hou·ette¹ /ˌsɪlu'et/ n a dark image, shadow, or shape, seen against a light background: When she switched on the light her silhouette appeared on the curtain. I saw the silhouette of the tower against the dawn sky.
silhouette
silhouette² v [T(against, on) usually pass.] to cause to appear as a silhouette: The birds were silhouetted against the bright sky.
sil·i·ca /'sɪlɪkə/ n [U] a chemical compound that is found naturally as sand, QUARTZ, and FLINT and is used in making glass
sil·i·cate /'sɪlɪket, -kət/ n [C;U] tech any of a large group of very common solid mineral substances
sil·i·con /'sɪlɪkən/ n [U] a simple substance (ELEMENT) that is not metal and is found in combined forms in nature in great quantities
silicon 'chip n a CHIP in a computer or other ELECTRONIC machinery → see picture at CHIP
sil·i·cone /'sɪlɪkəʊn/ n [U] any of a group of chemicals that are unchanged by heat and cold, and are used in making types of rubber, oil, and RESIN
silicone 'implant n a piece of silicone that is put into the body, especially during COSMETIC SURGERY. The most common type of silicone implant is one put into a woman's breasts to make them appear larger. There has been some disagreement among doctors as to whether these implants may have a harmful effect on the body.
Silicon 'Glen a humorous name for an area of central Scotland where there are many companies producing computer products. Its name is based on Silicon Valley, because 'glen' is a Scottish word for a valley.
Silicon 'Valley a part of California in the area between San Francisco and San José, which is known as a centre of the computer industry. Many important inventions were made in this area, and many large and small companies producing