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Definition of symbol noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

symbol

noun
 
/ˈsɪmbl/
 
/ˈsɪmbl/
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  1. a person, an object, an event, etc. that represents a more general quality or situation
    • The vase is decorated with religious symbols.
    • symbol of something The new school stands as a symbol of hope for a better future.
    • Mandela became a symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle.
    Homophones cymbal | symbolcymbal   symbol
     
    /ˈsɪmbl/
     
    /ˈsɪmbl/
    • cymbal noun
      • The drummer hit the cymbal one last time.
    • symbol noun
      • The owl is a well-recognized symbol of wisdom.
    Synonyms signsignindication symptom symbol indicator signalThese are all words for an event, an action or a fact that shows that something exists, is happening or may happen in the future.sign an event, an action or a fact that shows that something exists, is happening or may happen in the future:
    • Headaches may be a sign of stress.
    indication (rather formal) a remark or sign that shows that something is happening or what somebody is thinking or feeling:
    • They gave no indication as to how the work should be done.
    sign or indication?An indication often comes in the form of something that somebody says; a sign is usually something that happens or something that somebody does.symptom a change in your body or mind that shows that you are not healthy; a sign that something exists, especially something bad:
    • Symptoms include a sore throat.
    • The rise in inflation was just one symptom of the poor state of the economy.
    symbol a person, an object or an event that represents a more general quality or situation:
    • The dove is a universal symbol of peace.
    indicator (rather formal) a sign that shows you what something is like or how a situation is changing:
    • the economic indicators
    signal an event, an action or a fact that shows that something exists, is happening or may happen in the future:
    • Chest pains can be a warning signal of heart problems.
    sign or signal?Signal is often used to talk about an event, action or fact that suggests to somebody that they should do something. Sign is not usually used in this way: Reducing prison sentences would send the wrong signs to criminals. Patterns
    • a(n) sign/​indication/​symptom/​symbol/​indicator/​signal of something
    • a(n) sign/​indication/​symptom/​indicator/​signal that…
    • a clear sign/​indication/​symptom/​symbol/​indicator/​signal
    • an obvious sign/​indication/​symptom/​symbol/​indicator
    • an early sign/​indication/​symptom/​indicator/​signal
    • an outward sign/​indication/​symbol
    • to give a(n) sign/​indication/​signal
    Extra Examples
    • White has always been a symbol of purity in Western cultures.
    • Eggs are seen as the symbol of new life.
    • Guevara has come to represent a powerful symbol of defiance.
    • The Berlin wall was the supreme symbol of the Cold War.
    • The company car is an outward symbol of the employee's status.
    • The dove is a universal symbol of peace.
    • The villagers took fertility symbols into the fields to ensure a good harvest.
    • a symbol of royal power
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • dramatic
    • important
    • perfect
    verb + symbol
    • become
    • create
    • represent
    preposition
    • symbol of
    See full entry
  2. symbol (for something) a sign, number, letter, etc. that has a fixed meaning, especially in science, mathematics and music
    • the mathematical symbol for infinity
    • Hotels that display this symbol offer activities for children.
    Extra Examples
    • What is the chemical symbol for copper?
    • A list of symbols used on the map is given in the index.
    • A list of phonetic symbols is given in the front of the dictionary.
    • All GM products carry an identifying symbol.
    • Always look out for the special ABTA symbol at your travel agent's.
    • The bottle had a skull and crossbones symbol on it.
    • The coin bears a Jewish symbol.
    • What does this little symbol mean?
    • You can use your tokens wherever you see this symbol.
    • a message written in symbols
    Topics Maths and measurementa2, Scientific researcha2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • abstract
    • geometric
    • graphic
    verb + symbol
    • bear
    • be marked with
    • have
    symbol + verb
    • denote something
    • indicate something
    • mean something
    preposition
    • in symbols
    • symbol for
    See full entry
  3. see also sex symbol, status symbol
    Word Originlate Middle English (denoting the Apostles' Creed): from Latin symbolum ‘symbol, Creed (as the mark of a Christian)’, from Greek sumbolon ‘mark, token’, from sun- ‘with’ + ballein ‘to throw’.
See symbol in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee symbol in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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