token Hear it!

token definition

to·ken (kən)

noun

  1. a sign, indication, or symbol a token of one's affection
  2. something serving as a sign of authority, identity, genuineness, etc.
  3. a distinguishing mark or feature
    1. a keepsake
    2. a sample
  4. a piece of stamped metal, etc. with a face value higher than its real value, issued as a substitute for currency, for use as fare on a transportation line, etc.
  5. a person, as an employee, whose presence in a group is supposed to indicate absence of discrimination, as in race

Etymology: ME < OE tacn, akin to Ger zeichen < IE base *dei-, to point, show > teach, toe, digit, diction

transitive verb

to be a token of; symbolize

adjective

  1. by way of a token, symbol, etc. a token gesture
  2. merely simulated; slight or of no real account token resistance
  3. serving merely to fill a symbolic role, a quota, etc.
token Idioms

by the same token

for this reason; following the same line of reasoning

in token of

as evidence of

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

Alternate definitions:
token Synonyms

token

n.

by the same token

following from this, similarly, likewise, thus; see besides, therefore.

in token of

as evidence of, by way of, as a gesture; see representing 1. See syn. study at pledge.


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.

token Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • collect: All you need to do is collect 35 tokens with different dates on from the newspapers from 3rd January to 21st February.

Modifies a noun

  • gesture: Soldiers ejected over Iraq abuses Dare I say token gesture to make up for below?

Used with adjective complement

  • bet: Blue Square will then credit your account with a £ 25 betting token.

Noun used with modifier

  • dial-a-ride: Wycombe District Council - FAQ How do I apply for a bus pass or train, taxi and Dial-a-Ride tokens?

Preposition: in

  • tokenizer: Throws: NoSuchElementException if there are no more tokens in this tokenizer 's string.

Preposition: of

  • appreciation: No doubt these gifts are sweet little tokens of appreciation.
token 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.

token quotes

I should like to see the custom introduced of readers who are pleased with a book sending the author some small cash token† Not more than a hundred poundsöthat would be bad for my characterönot less than half a crownöthat would do no good to yours.

-Connolly, Cyril Vernon

token 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

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

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/token>

APA Style

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

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/token

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