symbol
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symbol
a sign; something that represents something else: A dove is a symbol of peace.
Not to be confused with:
cymbal – brass plate used as a percussion instrument: the crashing of the cymbals
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
sym·bol
(sĭm′bəl)n.
1.
a. Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible: The lamb is a symbol of innocence.
b. An instance that typifies a broader pattern or situation: His striking out to end the rally was a symbol of everything that had gone wrong with the team over the past month.
2. A printed or written sign used to represent an operation, element, quantity, quality, or relation, as in mathematics or music.
3. Psychology An object or image that an individual unconsciously uses to represent repressed thoughts, feelings, or impulses: a phallic symbol.
[Middle English symbole, creed, from Old French, from Latin symbolum, token, mark, from Greek sumbolon, token for identification (by comparison with a counterpart) : sun-, syn- + ballein, to throw; see gwelə- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
symbol
(ˈsɪmbəl)n
1. something that represents or stands for something else, usually by convention or association, esp a material object used to represent something abstract
2. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) an object, person, idea, etc, used in a literary work, film, etc, to stand for or suggest something else with which it is associated either explicitly or in some more subtle way
3. (Mathematics) a letter, figure, or sign used in mathematics, science, music, etc, to represent a quantity, phenomenon, operation, function, etc
4. (Psychoanalysis) psychoanal the end product, in the form of an object or act, of a conflict in the unconscious between repression processes and the actions and thoughts being repressed: the symbols of dreams.
5. (Psychology) psychol any mental process that represents some feature of external reality
vb, -bols, -bolling or -bolled, -bols, -boling or -boled
(tr) another word for symbolize
[C15: from Church Latin symbolum, from Greek sumbolon sign, from sumballein to throw together, from syn- + ballein to throw]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
sym•bol
(ˈsɪm bəl)n., v. -boled, -bol•ing (esp. Brit.) -bolled, -bol•ling. n.
1. something used for or regarded as representing something else, esp. a material object representing something immaterial; emblem or sign.
2. a letter, figure, or other conventional mark designating an object, quantity, operation, function, etc., as in mathematics or chemistry.
3. Psychoanal. any object or idea that represents or disguises a repressed wish or impulse: dream symbols; phallic symbols.
v.t. 4. to symbolize.
[1400–50; < Latin symbolum < Greek sýmbolon tally, token =sym- sym- + -bolon, n. derivative of bállein to throw]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
symbol
Past participle: symbolled
Gerund: symbolling
| Imperative |
|---|
| symbol |
| symbol |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  symbol - an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significancestock symbol - the letters used to identify listed companies on the securities exchanges where they are traded accolade, honor, laurels, honour, award - a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction; "an award for bravery" signal, signaling, sign - any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message; "signals from the boat suddenly stopped" stigma, stain, brand, mark - a symbol of disgrace or infamy; "And the Lord set a mark upon Cain"--Genesis token, item - an individual instance of a type of symbol; "the word`error' contains three tokens of `r'" type - all of the tokens of the same symbol; "the word `element' contains five different types of character" nose - a symbol of inquisitiveness; "keep your nose out of it" numeral, number - a symbol used to represent a number; "he learned to write the numerals before he went to school" symbolism - a system of symbols and symbolic representations lingam - the Hindu phallic symbol of Siva pound sign, pound - a symbol for a unit of currency (especially for the pound sterling in Great Britain) printed symbol, written symbol - a written or printed symbol dollar mark, dollar sign, dollar - a symbol of commercialism or greed; "he worships the almighty dollar"; "the dollar sign means little to him" monogram - a graphic symbol consisting of 2 or more letters combined (usually your initials); printed on stationery or embroidered on clothing stamp, impression - a symbol that is the result of printing or engraving; "he put his stamp on the envelope" mantle - the cloak as a symbol of authority; "place the mantle of authority on younger shoulders" Crown - the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy; "the colonies revolted against the Crown" staff - a rod carried as a symbol icon - (computer science) a graphic symbol (usually a simple picture) that denotes a program or a command or a data file or a concept in a graphical user interface identifier - a symbol that establishes the identity of the one bearing it variable - a symbol (like x or y) that is used in mathematical or logical expressions to represent a variable quantity |
| 2. |  symbol - something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible; "the eagle is a symbol of the United States"representational process - any basic cognitive process in which some entity comes to stand for or represent something else crossbones - two crossed bones (or a representation of two crossed bones) used as a symbol danger or death cornucopia, horn of plenty - a goat's horn filled with grain and flowers and fruit symbolizing prosperity death's head - a human skull (or a representation of a human skull) used as a symbol of death oriflamme - an inspiring symbol or ideal that serves as a rallying point in a struggle white feather - a symbol of cowardice |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
symbol
noun
1. metaphor, image, allegory, sign, representation, token To them the monarchy is a special symbol of nationhood.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
symbol
nounverb
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
symbol
symbol
symboli
simbol
szimbólum
tákn
象徴
상징
simboliškaisimboliškassimbolizmas
simbols
simbolznak
symboltecken
สัญลักษณ์
biểu tượng
symbol
[ˈsɪmbəl] NCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
symbol
n
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
symbol
(ˈsimbəl) noun a thing that is regarded as representing or standing for another. The dove is the symbol of peace.
symˈbolic (-ˈbo-) adjectiveIn the Christian religion, bread and wine are symbolic of Christ's body and blood.
symˈbolically adverbˈsymbolize, ˈsymbolise verb
to be a symbol of or represent by a symbol. A ring symbolizes everlasting love.
ˈsymbolism nounKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
symbol
→ رَمْز symbol symbol Symbol σύμβολο símbolo symboli symbole simbol simbolo 象徴 상징 symbool symbol symbol símbolo символ symbol สัญลักษณ์ sembol biểu tượng 象征Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
sym·bol
n. símbolo, representación o señal que sustituye o representa en la práctica otra cosa o idea.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012