symbol
pronunciation
How to pronounce symbol in British English:
UK [ˈsɪmbl]
How to pronounce symbol in American English:
US [ˈsɪmbl]
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- Noun:
- an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance
- something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible
Word Origin
- symbol
- symbol: [15] Etymologically, a symbol is something ‘thrown together’. The word’s ultimate source is Greek sumbállein, a compound verb formed from the prefix sun- ‘together’ and bállein ‘throw’ (source of English ballistic, problem, etc). The notion of ‘throwing or putting things together’ led on to the notion of ‘contrast’, and so sumbállein came to be used for ‘compare’. From it was derived súmbolon, which denoted an ‘identifying token’ – because such tokens were ‘compared’ with a counterpart to make sure they were genuine – and hence an ‘outward sign’ of something.=> ballistic, parable, parole, problem
- symbol (n.)
- early 15c., "creed, summary, religious belief," from Late Latin symbolum "creed, token, mark," from Greek symbolon "token, watchword, sign by which one infers; ticket, a permit, license" (the word was applied c.250 by Cyprian of Carthage to the Apostles' Creed, on the notion of the "mark" that distinguishes Christians from pagans), literally "that which is thrown or cast together," from assimilated form of syn- "together" (see syn-) + bole "a throwing, a casting, the stroke of a missile, bolt, beam," from bol-, nominative stem of ballein "to throw" (see ballistics). The sense evolution in Greek is from "throwing things together" to "contrasting" to "comparing" to "token used in comparisons to determine if something is genuine." Hence, "outward sign" of something. The meaning "something which stands for something else" first recorded 1590 (in "Faerie Queene"). As a written character, 1610s.
Example
- 1. This time it bears the symbol of the euro .
- 2. Toto and its products became a symbol of modernisation .
- 3. It might seem a bizarre symbol for a high-tech powerhouse .
- 4. The lone star symbol is stamped into the concrete of the state freeways .
- 5. Helen became a symbol of new hope for the deaf and blind .