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symbol definition

sym·bol (sim′bəl)

noun

  1. something that stands for, represents, or suggests another thing; esp., an object used to represent something abstract; emblem the dove is a symbol of peace
  2. a written or printed mark, letter, abbreviation, etc. standing for an object, quality, process, quantity, etc., as in music, mathematics, or chemistry
  3. Psychoanalysis an act or object representing an unconscious desire that has been repressed

Etymology: < Fr & L: Fr symbole < L symbolus, symbolum < Gr symbolon, token, pledge, sign by which one infers a thing < symballein, to throw together, compare < syn-, together + ballein, to throw: see ball

transitive verb symboled -·boled or symbolled -·bolled, symboling -·bol·ing or symbolling -·bol·ling

symbolize

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms symbol idiom

medical symbol definition - medical

telecom symbol definition - telecom

symbol Synonyms

symbol

n.

type, representative, regalia, emblem, insignia, totem, logo, hieroglyph, number, token, figure; see also representation.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

symbol Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • rebirth: To my 21st century Catholic eyes it looks like nothing so much as a symbol of rebirth and resurrection.

Adjective modifier

  • potent: One figure holds up a large lock, a potent symbol of the town's premier industry.

Modifies a noun

  • cryp: Talking to horse symbol cryp and one without latest in online.

Noun used with modifier

  • padlock: By clicking onto the padlock symbol you will be directed to sources which will clearly explain how the information is to be used.
symbol usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

symbol quotes

Possibly the symbol for America is the Frontier† The corresponding symbol for England is the Island† The central symbol for Canada†is undoubtedly Survival, la Survivance.

-Atwood, Margaret Eleanor

The fancy of the mass of men is incredibly weak; it can see nothing without a visible symbol, and there is much that it can scarcely make out with a symbol.

-Bagehot,Walter

   Science is the reduction of the bewildering diversity of unique events to manageable uniformity within one of a number of symbol systems, and technology is the art of using thesesymbol systemssoastocontrol and organize unique events. Scientific observation is always a viewing of things through the refracting medium of a symbol system, and technological praxis is always handling of things in ways that some symbol system has dictated. Education in science and technology is essentially education on the symbol level.

-Huxley, Aldous Leonard

symbol quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"symbol." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/symbol>

APA Style

symbol. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/symbol

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