symptom Definition
symp·tom (simp′təm)
noun
- any circumstance, event, or condition that accompanies something and indicates its existence or occurrence; sign; indication
- Med. any condition accompanying or resulting from a disease or a physical disorder and serving as an aid in diagnosis
Etymology: altered (infl. by LL or Gr) < ME symthoma < ML sinthoma < LL symptoma < Gr symptōma, anything that has befallen one, casualty < sympiptein, to fall together, happen < syn-, together + piptein, to fall: see feather
symptom Synonyms
symptom Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- menopause: Another situation in which the CSM advises that HRT should not be started is in healthy women who have no symptoms of the menopause.
- meningitis: Danger signals associated with neck pain In some cases, neck pain may be a symptom of meningitis.
- schizophrenia: There is better evidence that cannabis use can exacerbate the symptoms of schizophrenia.
- depression: If you don't get treatment the symptoms of depression may go on for a very long time, sometimes months or years.
- poisoning: The symptoms of poisoning from ingesting of the plant include burning in the mouth.
- hypoglycaemia: If you recognize the symptoms of hypoglycaemia, you can usually deal with the situation easily by taking sugar.
Converse of object
- relieve: Only a part of the prostate gland - not the whole gland is removed, in order to relieve urinary symptoms.
- alleviate: This raises the possibility of future drugs being able to provide a cure, rather than alleviating the symptoms of the disease.
- treat: However, there are many ways of treating the symptoms of arthritis.
Adjective modifier
- menopausal: Services available Most women will suffer from distressing menopausal symptoms.
- flu-like: If you are suffering from chronic flu-like symptoms, see your doctor and ask him if it could be a low-level CO poisoning.
- depressive: However, long term exposure to ecstasy may result in increased depressive symptoms.
- respiratory: Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms at the outset.
- mild: Some people also experience mild respiratory symptoms at the outset.
- urinary: Only a part of the prostate gland - not the whole gland is removed, in order to relieve urinary symptoms.
Modifies a noun
severity: The new guidelines suggest that it should be classified on the basis of symptom duration and/or severity.
Noun used with modifier
- withdrawal: Thanks for letting me know what I should expect in terms of withdrawal symptoms.
- asthma: The link between salt intake and asthma symptoms has been investigated in a number of studies.
- menopause: Menopause symptoms are Nature's wake-up call to let you know you need to start paying more attention to your health.
- flu: Flu symptoms may last for up to a week before you begin to feel better.
Browse dictionary entries near symptom
- ‹ symposium
- ‹ symposiast
- ‹ symposiarch
- ‹ symposiac
- ‹ sympodium
- ‹ symphysis
- ‹ symphony orchestra
- ‹ symphony
- ‹ symphonist
- ‹ symphonious
- symptomatic ›
- symptomatize ›
- symptomatology ›
- syn ›
- syn- ›
- synaesthesia ›
- synagogue ›
- synaloepha ›
- Synanon ›
- synapse ›

