symbol
Other forms: symbols; symbolling
A symbol can be an object, shape, sign, or character used to represent something else. A flag is a symbol of a country. English teachers never tire of talking about symbols in literature.
A pink ribbon is a symbol of breast-cancer awareness, and a yellow ribbon is a symbol of support for U.S. troops. In literature, authors use many symbols. A character doing even a small thing, like eating a cheeseburger, might symbolize something larger about that character. Something you need to be rich to have — like a limousine — is called a "status symbol." Anytime one thing seems to represent a deeper meaning, it's probably a symbol.
Definitions of symbol
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something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible“the eagle is a symbol of the United States”synonyms: symbolic representation, symbolisation, symbolizationtypes:crossbonestwo crossed bones (or a representation of two crossed bones) used as a symbol danger or deathcornucopia, horn of plentya goat's horn filled with grain and flowers and fruit symbolizing prosperitydeath's heada human skull (or a representation of a human skull) used as a symbol of deathoriflammean inspiring symbol or ideal that serves as a rallying point in a strugglewhite feathera symbol of cowardicescarlet letterthe letter A in red; Puritans required adulterers to wear itcupida symbol for love in the form of a cherubic naked boy with wings and a bow and arrowdonkeythe symbol of the Democratic Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874dovean emblem of peaceeaglean emblem representing powerelephantthe symbol of the Republican Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874fascesbundle of rods containing an axe with the blade protruding; in ancient Rome it was a symbol of a magistrate's power; in modern Italy it is a symbol of fascismhammer and sicklethe emblem on the flag of the Soviet Unionred flagthe emblem of socialist revolutionMagen David, Mogen David, Shield of David, Solomon's seal, Star of Davida six-pointed star formed from two equilateral triangles; an emblem symbolizing Judaismbadgean emblem (a small piece of plastic or cloth or metal) that signifies your status (rank or membership or affiliation etc.)maple-leafthe emblem of Canadamedallionan emblem indicating that a taxicab is registeredspread eaglean emblem (an eagle with wings and legs spread) on the obverse of the Great Seal of the United StatesHakenkreuz, swastikathe official emblem of the Nazi Party and the Third Reich; a cross with the arms bent at right angles in a clockwise directiontype of:representational processany basic cognitive process in which some entity comes to stand for or represent something else
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an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significancetypes:stock symbolthe letters used to identify listed companies on the securities exchanges where they are tradedtypeall of the tokens of the same symbolnosea symbol of inquisitivenesssymbolisma system of symbols and symbolic representationslingamthe Hindu phallic symbol of Sivapound, pound signa symbol for a unit of currency (especially for the pound sterling in Great Britain)monograma graphic symbol consisting of 2 or more letters combined (usually your initials); printed on stationery or embroidered on clothingmantlethe cloak as a symbol of authorityCrownthe Crown (or the reigning monarch) as the symbol of the power and authority of a monarchystaffa rod carried as a symbolicon(computer science) a graphic symbol (usually a simple picture) that denotes a program or a command or a data file or a concept in a graphical user interfaceidentifiera symbol that establishes the identity of the one bearing itvariablea symbol (like x or y) that is used in mathematical or logical expressions to represent a variable quantityglypha small, often stylized graphic symbolaliyah(Judaism) the honor of being called up to the reading desk in the synagogue to read from the Torahacademic degree, degreean award conferred by a college or university signifying that the recipient has satisfactorily completed a course of studycitation, commendationan official award (as for bravery or service) usually given as formal public statementdecoration, laurel wreath, medal, medallion, palm, ribbonan award for winning a championship or commemorating some other eventtrophyan award for success in war or huntingdemerita mark against a person for misconduct or failure; usually given in school or armed forcesearmarkidentification mark on the ear of a domestic animalbrandidentification mark on skin, made by burningpostage, postage stamp, stampa small adhesive token stuck on a letter or package to indicate that that postal fees have been paidtrading stampa token resembling a stamp given by a retailer to a buyer; the token is redeemable for articles on a special listRoman numerala symbol in the old Roman notation; I,V,X,L,C,D,M represent 1,5,10,50,100,500,1000 respectively in Arabic notationmarka written or printed symbol (as for punctuation)phonogramany written symbol standing for a sound or syllable or morpheme or wordtrademarka formally registered symbol identifying the manufacturer or distributor of a productassay-mark, authentication, hallmarka mark on an article of trade to indicate its origin and authenticityseala stamp affixed to a document (as to attest to its authenticity or to seal it)crosier, croziera staff surmounted by a crook or cross carried by bishops as a symbol of pastoral officemacea ceremonial staff carried as a symbol of office or authoritytipstaffstaff with a metal tip carried as a sign of office by e.g. a bailiff or constableEmmyan annual award by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in televisionNobel prizean annual award for outstanding contributions to chemistry or physics or physiology and medicine or literature or economics or peaceAcademy Award, Oscaran annual award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievements in motion picture production and performancePrix de Romean annual prize awarded by the French government in a competition of painters and artists and sculptors and musicians and architects; the winner in each category receives support for a period of study in RomePrix Goncourtan award given annually for contributions to French literaturepostmarka cancellation mark stamped on mail by postal officials; indicates the post office and date of mailingwatermarka distinguishing mark impressed on paper during manufacture; visible when paper is held up to the lightbroad arrowan arrowhead mark identifying British government propertyplaceholdera symbol in a logical or mathematical expression that can be replaced by the name of any member of specified setlabelan identifying or descriptive marker that is attached to an objectcairna mound of stones piled up as a memorial or to mark a boundary or path
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