Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » hieroglyphic

hieroglyphic

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

Hieroglyphic is defined as writing made up of pictorial symbols.

(noun)

Writing made up of pictorial symbols used by the ancient Egyptians is an example of hieroglyphic.

The definition of hieroglyphic is something associated with writing made up of pictorial symbols.

(adjective)

A writing system made up of pictorial symbols such as those used in ancient Egypt is an example of a writing system that would be described as hieroglyphic.

See hieroglyphic in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

of, or having the nature of, hieroglyphics
written in hieroglyphics
hard to read or understand

Also hieroglyphical

Origin: Fr hiéroglyphique < LL hieroglyphicus < Gr hieroglyphikos < hieros, sacred (see hiero-) + glyphein, to carve, hollow out: see glyph

noun

a picture or symbol representing a word, syllable, or sound, used by the ancient Egyptians and others instead of alphabetical letters
a method of writing using hieroglyphics; picture writing
a symbol, sign, etc. hard to understand
writing hard to decipher

Related Forms:

hieroglyphically adverb

See hieroglyphic in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

a. Of, relating to, or being a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound.
b. Written with such symbols.
Difficult to read or decipher.

noun

a. A hieroglyph.
b. Hieroglyphic writing, especially that of the ancient Egyptians. Often used in the plural with a singular or plural verb.
Something, such as illegible or undecipherable writing, that is felt to resemble a hieroglyph.

Origin:

Origin: French hiéroglyphique

Origin: , from Late Latin hieroglyphicus

Origin: , from Greek hierogluphikos

Origin: : hieros, holy; see eis- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + gluphē, carving (from gluphein, to carve; see gleubh- in Indo-European roots)

Related Forms: