token
pronunciation
How to pronounce token in British English:
UK [ˈtəʊkən]
How to pronounce token in American English:
US [ˈtoʊkən]
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- Noun:
- an individual instance of a type of symbol
- a metal or plastic disk that can be used (as a substitute for coins) in slot machines
- something of sentimental value
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- Adjective:
- insignificantly small; a matter of form only (`tokenish' is informal)
Word Origin
- token
- token: [OE] A token is etymologically something that ‘shows’ you something. It comes from a prehistoric Germanic *taiknam, which also produced German zeichen ‘sign’. This in turn was formed from a base *taik- ‘show’, which also produced English teach.=> teach
- token (n.)
- Old English tacen "sign, symbol, evidence" (related to verb tæcan "show, explain, teach"), from Proto-Germanic *taiknam (cognates: Old Saxon tekan, Old Norse teikn "zodiac sign, omen, token," Old Frisian tekan, Middle Dutch teken, Dutch teken, Old High German zeihhan, German zeichen, Gothic taikn "sign, token"), from PIE root *deik- "to show" (see teach). Meaning "coin-like piece of stamped metal" is first recorded 1590s. Older sense of "evidence" is retained in by the same token (mid-15c.), originally "introducing a corroborating circumstance" [OED].
- token (adj.)
- "nominal," 1915, from token (n.). In integration sense, first recorded 1960.
Example
- 1. But they are also a token of transatlantic seriousness about europe .
- 2. For foreign issuers , a token chinese listing might open a few doors .
- 3. More recently , a token charge of $ 250 a lorry was imposed .
- 4. Prick it , and it will duly release a token amount of blood while peers are haemorrhaging copiously .
- 5. That is why mr obama 's budget makes only token cuts to entitlements .