Definition of "symbol"

symbol

/ˈsɪmbəl/

noun
plural symbols
1. A character or glyph representing an idea, concept or object.
2. A thing considered the embodiment or cardinal exemplar of a concept, theme, or other thing.
3. (linguistics) A type of noun whereby the form refers to the same entity independently of the context; a symbol arbitrarily denotes a referent. See also icon and index.
4. A summary of a dogmatic statement of faith.
5. (crystallography) The numerical expression which defines a plane's position relative to the assumed axes.
6. (obsolete) That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty.
  Quotations
  They do their work in the days of peace […] and come to pay their symbol in a war or in a plague.
  1651–1653, Jer[emy] Taylor, ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΣ [Eniautos]. A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Royston […], published 1655
7. (obsolete) Share; allotment.
  Quotations
  The persons who are to be judged […] shall all appear to receive their symbol.
  1651–1653, Jer[emy] Taylor, ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΣ [Eniautos]. A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Royston […], published 1655
8. (programming) An internal identifier used by a debugger to relate parts of the compiled program to the corresponding names in the source code.
9. (telecommunications) A signalling event on a communications channel; a signal that cannot be further divided into meaningful information.
verb
third-person singular simple present symbols, present participle symboling or symbolling, simple past and past participle symboled or symbolled
1. To symbolize.
  Quotations
  […] They told me that the Holy Rood had lean'd / And bow'd above me; […] / [I]f it bow'd, whether it symbol'd ruin / Or glory, who shall tell?
  1877, Alfred Tennyson, Harold: A Drama, London: Henry S. King & Co., Act V, scene i, page 128

Definition of "symbol"

symbol

noun

Quotations

Quotations

verb

Quotations