symbol

Meaning

Noun

1. A character or glyph representing an idea, concept or object.
2. A thing considered the embodiment or cardinal exemplar of a concept, theme, or other thing.
3. 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.
5. The numerical expression which defines a plane's position relative to the assumed axes.
6. (obsolete) That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty.
7. (obsolete) Share; allotment.
8. An internal identifier used by a debugger to relate parts of the compiled program to the corresponding names in the source code.
9. A signalling event on a communications channel; a signal that cannot be further divided into meaningful information.

Verb

To symbolize.

Synonyms

sign

mark

emblem

token

badge

signal

character

stamp

seal

🦭

image

figure

code

insignia

plus sign

hallmark

indication

symbolisation

ensign

logo

picture

symbolic representation

indicator

label

🏷️

representation

allegory

icon

marker

marking

symbolization

symbolize

designation

attribute

photo

mark up

metaphor

model

notation

notice

meaning

photograph

pip

pointer

portent

reason

recognizance

row

sacrament

shadow

signaling

signature

Translations

symbole

Symbol

simbolo

símbolo

symbool

Zeichen

símbolo

σύμβολο

sembol

Sinnbild

teken

símbol

signe

simge

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsɪmbəl/

Etymology

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