symbol | |
1. n. A character or glyph representing an idea, concept or object. | |
$ is the symbol for dollars in the US and some other countries. | |
Chinese people use word symbols for writing. | |
The lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb is the symbol of meekness or patience. | |
2. n. Any object, typically material, which is meant to represent another (usually abstract) even if there is no meaningful relationship. | |
The dollar symbol has no relationship to the concept of currency or any related idea. | |
3. n. (linguistics) A type of noun whereby the form refers to the same entity independently of the context; a symbol arbitrarily denotes a referent. See also icon and index. | |
4. n. A summary of a dogmatic statement of faith. | |
The Apostles, Nicene Creed and the confessional books of Protestantism, such as the Augsburg Confession of Lutheranism are considered symbols. | |
5. n. Visible traces or impressions, made using a writing device or tool, that are connected together and/or are slightly separated. Sometimes symbols represent objects or events that occupy space or things | |
6. n. (crystallography) The numerical expression which defines a plane's position relative to the assumed axes. | |
7. n. (obsolete) That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty. | |
8. n. (obsolete) Share; allotment. | |
9. n. (programming) An internal identifier used by a debugger to relate parts of the compiled program to the corresponding names in the source code. | |
10. v. To symbolize. | |