5  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Symbol  \Sym"bol\,  n.  [L.  symbolus  symbolum  Gr  sy`mbolon  a 
  sign  by  which  one  knows  or  infers  a  thing  from  ?  to  throw  or 
  put  together,  to  compare;  sy`n  with  +  ?  to  throw:  cf  F. 
  symbole.  Cf  {Emblem},  {Parable}.] 
  1.  A  visible  sign  or  representation  of  an  idea;  anything 
  which  suggests  an  idea  or  quality,  or  another  thing  as  by 
  resemblance  or  by  convention;  an  emblem;  a  representation; 
  a  type  a  figure;  as  the  lion  is  the  symbol  of  courage; 
  the  lamb  is  the  symbol  of  meekness  or  patience. 
 
  A  symbol  is  a  sign  included  in  the  idea  which  it 
  represents,  e.  g.,  an  actual  part  chosen  to 
  represent  the  whole,  or  a  lower  form  or  species  used 
  as  the  representative  of  a  higher  in  the  same  kind 
  --Coleridge. 
 
  2.  (Math.)  Any  character  used  to  represent  a  quantity,  an 
  operation,  a  relation,  or  an  abbreviation. 
 
  Note:  In  crystallography,  the  symbol  of  a  plane  is  the 
  numerical  expression  which  defines  its  position 
  relatively  to  the  assumed  axes. 
 
  3.  (Theol.)  An  abstract  or  compendium  of  faith  or  doctrine;  a 
  creed,  or  a  summary  of  the  articles  of  religion. 
 
  4.  [Gr.  ?  contributions.]  That  which  is  thrown  into  a  common 
  fund;  hence  an  appointed  or  accustomed  duty.  [Obs.] 
 
  They  do  their  work  in  the  days  of  peace  .  .  .  and 
  come  to  pay  their  symbol  in  a  war  or  in  a  plague. 
  --Jer.  Taylor. 
 
  5.  Share;  allotment.  [Obs.] 
 
  The  persons  who  are  to  be  judged  .  .  .  shall  all 
  appear  to  receive  their  symbol.  --Jer.  Taylor. 
 
  6.  (Chem.)  An  abbreviation  standing  for  the  name  of  an 
  element  and  consisting  of  the  initial  letter  of  the  Latin 
  or  New  Latin  name  or  sometimes  of  the  initial  letter  with 
  a  following  one  as  {C}  for  carbon,  {Na}  for  sodium 
  (Natrium),  {Fe}  for  iron  (Ferrum),  {Sn}  for  tin  (Stannum), 
  {Sb}  for  antimony  (Stibium),  etc  See  the  list  of  names 
  and  symbols  under  {Element}. 
 
  Note:  In  pure  and  organic  chemistry  there  are  symbols  not 
  only  for  the  elements,  but  also  for  their  grouping  in 
  formulas,  radicals,  or  residues,  as  evidenced  by  their 
  composition,  reactions,  synthesis,  etc  See  the  diagram 
  of  {Benzene  nucleus},  under  {Benzene}. 
 
  Syn:  Emblem;  figure;  type  See  {Emblem}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Symbol  \Sym"bol\,  v.  t. 
  To  symbolize.  [R.]  --Tennyson. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  symbol 
  n  1:  an  arbitrary  sign  (written  or  printed)  that  has  acquired  a 
  conventional  significance 
  2:  something  visible  that  by  association  or  convention 
  represents  something  else  that  is  invisible;  "the  eagle  is 
  a  symbol  of  the  United  States"  [syn:  {symbolization},  {symbolizing}, 
  {standing  for}] 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Symbol,  KY 
  Zip  code(s):  40729 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  SYMBOL,  n.  Something  that  is  supposed  to  typify  or  stand  for 
  something  else.  Many  symbols  are  mere  survivals"  --  things  which 
  having  no  longer  any  utility  continue  to  exist  because  we  have 
  inherited  the  tendency  to  make  them  as  funereal  urns  carved  on 
  memorial  monuments.  They  were  once  real  urns  holding  the  ashes  of  the 
  dead.  We  cannot  stop  making  them  but  we  can  give  them  a  name  that 
  conceals  our  helplessness. 
 
 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words