symbol

SIM-buhl/ˈsɪmbəl/

Pluralsymbols

Verbsymbols

10 meanings of symbol

Practice

1
nouncountable
A mark, letter, or sign that stands for an idea or thing.
Like a smiley face that stands for being happy.
The heart symbol on the card means love.
Each road sign uses a simple symbol that drivers can read quickly.
Similarsign, character, glyph
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2
nouncountable
A person or thing that stands for a bigger idea.
Like a lion standing for bravery in old stories.
The old oak tree is a symbol of the whole town.
A crown can be a symbol of power.
Similaremblem, embodiment, icon, token
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3
nouncountable
A kind of sign that stands for a thing because people agree it does, not because it looks like it.
Like a wedding ring that means marriage only because people agree it does.
The word 'dog' is a symbol because it does not look or sound like a real dog.
We learn that a red light works as a symbol for 'stop' only because everyone agrees.
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4
nouncountable
In computer programs, a name that links the built program back to the words a programmer wrote.
Like a label on a box that tells you what is inside.
Without the right symbol, the debugger shows a number instead of a name.
Each symbol points back to the line of code where a name was written.
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5
nouncountable
In sending data, the smallest signal that carries meaning and cannot be split into smaller pieces.
Like one beep in a row of beeps, each one a small piece of a message.
The modem sends one symbol at a time down the line.
A noisy line can make the receiver read the wrong symbol.
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6
nouncountable
A short statement that sums up the main beliefs of a religion.
Like a short list of the main beliefs that everyone in a group agrees on.
New members learned the symbol so they could state their faith.
The priest read the symbol aloud during the service.
Similarcreed
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7
nouncountable
In the study of crystals, a set of numbers showing how a flat face sits compared to the main directions.
Like map coordinates that tell you exactly which way something faces.
The symbol for this face is just three small numbers.
Scientists use a symbol to show which way a crystal face points.
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8
verbtransitive
To stand for or represent something.
Like how a dove can stand for peace.
We use a dove to symbol peace.
Colors can symbol different feelings.
Similarrepresent, symbolize, embody, signify
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Less common meanings

9
nounobsolete
Money or goods put into a shared fund, or a duty someone is expected to do.
Like everyone putting some money in to pay for a shared pizza.
Every man paid his symbol into the shared pot for the meal.
She gave her symbol toward the cost of the feast.
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10
nounobsolete
A part given to one person as their share.
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Practice

Can you tell the meanings of symbol apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Greek 'súmbolon', a sign or token. This came from a word meaning to throw together, from 'sún' (together) and 'bállō' (I throw).