emblem

pronunciation

How to pronounce emblem in British English: UK [ˈembləm]word uk audio image

How to pronounce emblem in American English: US [ˈɛmbləm] word us audio image

  • Noun:
    special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc.
    a visible symbol representing an abstract idea

Word Origin

emblem
emblem: [15] The Latin term emblēma referred to ‘inlaid work’ – designs formed by setting some material such as wood or ivory, or enamel, into a contrasting surface. This usage survived into English as a conscious archaism (‘The ground more colour’d then with stone of costliest emblem’, John Milton, Paradise Lost 1667), but for the most part English has used the word metaphorically, for a ‘design which symbolizes something’.The Latin word was borrowed from Greek émblēma, a derivative of embállein ‘throw in, put in, insert’. This was a compound verb formed from the prefix en- ‘in’ and bállein ‘throw’ (source of the second syllable of English problem, and closely related to that of symbol).=> problem, symbol
emblem (n.)
1580s, "relief, raised ornament on vessels, etc.," from Latin emblema "inlaid ornamental work," from Greek emblema (genitive emblematos) "an insertion," from emballein "to insert," literally "to throw in," from assimilated form of en "in" (see en- (2)) + ballein "to throw" (see ballistics). Meaning "allegorical drawing or picture" is from 1730, via sense development in French emblème "symbol" (16c.).

Synonym

Example

1. It 's a perfect emblem of how we live today .
2. Dubai 's record-breaker is also a powerful emblem of forgetfulness .
3. What looks like a stamped t-shirt is a sweatshirt with emblem .
4. Look , do you know what that emblem means ?
5. The net is an emblem of multiples .

more: >How to Use "emblem" with Example Sentences