noun
- 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
- a written or printed mark, letter, abbreviation, etc. standing for an object, quality, process, quantity, etc., as in music, mathematics, or chemistry
- Psychoanalysis an act or object representing an unconscious desire that has been repressed
Origin:
< 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 or symbolled, symboling or symbolling
symbolize