symbol
English meaning: Symbol
Definition
A character or glyph representing an idea, concept or object.
Example
“$ is the symbol for dollars in the US and some other countries.”
Another example: “On the map, a small red symbol marks each campsite.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A neutral noun for a mark, sign, or object that stands for an idea, quality, or entity ('a symbol of peace', 'a chemical symbol'). Common in writing, science, mathematics, and culture. Distinct from 'sign' in that symbols carry deeper or conventional meaning.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Greek 'symbolon' (a token, sign, mark), from 'syn-' (together) plus 'ballein' (to throw); entered English via Latin in the 16th century.
Related Words
- unicode
- symbols
- phonetic
- emblem
- fertility
- purity
- alphabet
- denote
- notation
- denotes
Common Collocations
- status symbol
- chemical symbol
- symbol of peace
- national symbol
- powerful symbol
- sex symbol
Word Forms
symbol (n); symbols (pl); symbolize (v); symbolic (adj)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B