Symptom

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈsɪm(p)tÉ™m/

Origin

From Ancient Greek σύμπτωμα (sumptōma, "a happening, accident, symptom of disease"), from stem of συμπίπτω (sumpiptō, "Ι befall"), from συν- (sun-, "together") + πίπτω (piptō, "I fall").

Full definition of symptom

Noun

1. (medicine) A perceived change in some function, sensation or appearance of a person that indicates a disease or disorder, such as fever, headache or rash.
2. Anything that indicates, or is characteristic of, the presence of something else, especially of something undesirable.

Synonyms

• indication
• manifestation
• sign

Antonyms

• Treatment of symptoms versus treatment of cause

Derived terms

• symptomatology
• symptomless

Related terms

• asymptomatic
• asymptote
• symptomatic