hieroglyphic

C2 Topic:Communication

Also spelled hieroglyphical

US /ˌhaɪ.rəˈɡlɪf.ɪk/ UK /ˌhaɪ.rəˈɡlɪf.ɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #59036

Meanings

1

adj
written in or relating to a system that uses pictorial symbols, especially ancient Egyptian writing

The wall bears a hieroglyphic account of the king's victories.
2

noun
a hieroglyph or a system of hieroglyphic writing

The scholar identified the damaged hieroglyphic as a royal title.
3

adj
difficult to read or interpret because it resembles obscure symbols

The doctor's hieroglyphic notes defeated every clerk in the office.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · written in or relating to a... pictographichieroglyphical

2 noun · a hieroglyph or a system of... hieroglyphpicture symbol

3 adj · difficult to read or... illegible cryptic

Opposites

alphabetic legible

Word family

Forms hieroglyphics

Derived forms nonhieroglyphic

Related forms hieroglyphglyphpictogram

Etymology

Through French hieroglyphique and Latin hieroglyphicus from Greek hieroglyphikos, built from hieros ("sacred") + glyphein ("to carve"). The original hieroglyphs were therefore understood as sacred carvings.

Topics

Communication

External links

# hieroglyphic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌhaɪ.rəˈɡlɪf.ɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌhaɪ.rəˈɡlɪf.ɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 59036

## Meanings
1. written in or relating to a system that uses pictorial symbols, especially ancient Egyptian writing
2. a hieroglyph or a system of hieroglyphic writing
3. difficult to read or interpret because it resembles obscure symbols

## Examples
- The wall bears a hieroglyphic account of the king's victories.
- The scholar identified the damaged hieroglyphic as a royal title.
- The doctor's hieroglyphic notes defeated every clerk in the office.

## Synonyms
- pictographic
- hieroglyphical
- hieroglyph
- cryptic

## Antonyms
- alphabetic
- legible

## Derived Forms
- nonhieroglyphic

## Related Forms
- hieroglyph
- glyph
- pictogram

## Etymology
Through French hieroglyphique and Latin hieroglyphicus from Greek hieroglyphikos, built from hieros ("sacred") + glyphein ("to carve"). The original hieroglyphs were therefore understood as sacred carvings.

## Topics
- Communication

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