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SYMBOL
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected forms: symbolled , symbolling
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible
Example:
the eagle is a symbol of the United States
Synonyms:
symbol; symbolic representation; symbolisation; symbolization
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("symbol" is a kind of...):
representational process (any basic cognitive process in which some entity comes to stand for or represent something else)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "symbol"):
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)
allegory; emblem (a visible symbol representing an abstract idea)
Derivation:
symbolic; symbolical (serving as a visible symbol for something abstract)
symbolical (relating to or using or proceeding by means of symbols)
symbolise; symbolize (express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol)
Sense 2
Meaning:
An arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("symbol" is a kind of...):
sign; signal; signaling (any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "symbol"):
variable (a symbol (like x or y) that is used in mathematical or logical expressions to represent a variable quantity)
identifier (a symbol that establishes the identity of the one bearing it)
mark; marker; marking (a distinguishing 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)
staff (a rod carried as a symbol)
Crown (the Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchy)
mantle (the cloak as a symbol of authority)
impression; stamp (a symbol that is the result of printing or engraving)
monogram (a graphic symbol consisting of 2 or more letters combined (usually your initials); printed on stationery or embroidered on clothing)
dollar; dollar mark; dollar sign (a symbol of commercialism or greed)
printed symbol; written symbol (a written or printed symbol)
pound; pound sign (a symbol for a unit of currency (especially for the pound sterling in Great Britain))
lingam (the Hindu phallic symbol of Siva)
symbolism (a system of symbols and symbolic representations)
number; numeral (a symbol used to represent a number)
nose (a symbol of inquisitiveness)
type (all of the tokens of the same symbol)
item; token (an individual instance of a type of symbol)
brand; mark; stain; stigma (a symbol of disgrace or infamy)
accolade; award; honor; honour; laurels (a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction)
stock symbol (the letters used to identify listed companies on the securities exchanges where they are traded)
Derivation:
symbolic; symbolical (relating to or using or proceeding by means of symbols)
symbolise; symbolize (express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol)
Context examples:
A unique symbol that establishes identity of the place.
(Place Identifier, NCI Thesaurus)
Is there not some symbol or device upon their sails?
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The unique symbol that establishes identity of the observation result.
(Performed Observation Result Identifier, NCI Thesaurus)
The symbol for degrees is a small superscript circle.
(Degree Unit of Plane Angle, NCI Thesaurus)
The representation of symbols in a source alphabet by strings of binary digits.
(Binary Encoding, NCI Thesaurus)
A symbol or combination of symbols which is given an arbitrary meaning within a systematized collection of concepts used for data representation.
(Code, NCI Thesaurus)
AN element with atomic symbol Be, atomic number 4, and atomic weight 9.01
(Beryllium, NCI Thesaurus)
An element with atomic symbol Cd, atomic number 48, and atomic weight 112.4.
(Cadmium, NCI Thesaurus)
A representation of a substance using symbols for its constituent elements.
(Chemical Formula, NCI Thesaurus)
It was a beautiful dry tunnel with smooth gray walls covered with native symbols, a curved roof which arched over our heads, and white glistening sand beneath our feet.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
