Symbol

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈsɪmbəɫ/
• US
• Rhymes: -ɪmbÉ™l
• Homophones: cymbal

Origin

From French symbole, from Latin symbolus, symbolum ("a sign, mark, token, symbol, in Late Latin also a creed"), from Ancient Greek σύμβολον (sumbolon, "a sign by which one infers something; a mark, token, badge, ticket, tally, check, a signal, watchword, outward sign"), from συμβάλλω (sumballō, "I throw together, dash together, compare, correspond, tally, come to a conclusion"), from σύν (sun, "with, together") + βάλλω (ballō, "I throw, put")

Full definition of symbol

Noun

1. A character or glyph representing an idea, concept or object.$ is the symbol for dollars in the US and some other countries. '#' is the octothorpe symbol.''Chinese people use word symbols for writing.The lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb is the symbol of meekness or patience.
2. Any object, typically material, which is meant to represent another (usually abstract) even if there is no meaningful relationship.The dollar symbol has no relationship to the concept of currency or any related idea.
3. (linguistics) A type of noun whereby the form refers to the same entity independently of the context; a symbol arbitrarily denotes a referent. See also icon and index.
4. A summary of a dogmatic statement of faith.The Apostles, Nicene Creed and the confessional books of Protestantism, such as the Augsburg Confession of Lutheranism are considered symbols.
5. Visible traces or impressions, made using a writing device or tool, that are connected together and/or are slightly separated. Sometimes symbols represent objects or events that occupy space or things that are not physical and do not occupy space.
6. (crystallography) The numerical expression which defines a plane's position relative to the assumed axes.
7. That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty.
• Jeremy TaylorThey do their work in the days of peace ... and come to pay their symbol in a war or in a plague.
8. Share; allotment.
• Jeremy TaylorThe persons who are to be judged ... shall all appear to receive their symbol.

Derived terms

• status symbol
• typographical symbol

Related terms

• symbolic
• symbolize
• symbolism

Verb

1. To symbolize.