signature

1. (medicine) The part of a doctor’s prescription containing directions for the patient.

2. (music) Signs on the stave indicating key and tempo, composed of the key signature and the time signature.

3. (printing) A group of four (or a multiple of four) sheets printed such that, when folded, they become a section of a book.

4. (computing) A pattern used for matching the identity of a virus, the parameter types of a method, etc.

5. (cryptography) Data attached to a message that guarantees that the message originated from its claimed source.

6. (figurative) A mark or sign of implication.Examples: "the natural and indelible signature of God, which human souls […] are supposed to be stamped with"; "The TACOM Vehicle Signature Reduction program is concerned with reducing the noise signature detectability of military vehicles in combat."; "A “signature” was placed on all things by God to indicate their affinities — but it was hidden, hence the search for arcane knowledge. Knowing was guessing and interpreting, not observing or demonstrating."figuratively