symbol

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A thing that stands for or represents an idea, quality, or feeling.

   The dove is a well-known symbol of peace.

2. 2
   noun

   A written or printed sign that has an agreed meaning, such as a letter, mark, or character.

   The symbol "$" stands for the US dollar.

3. 3
   noun

   A person or thing seen as the perfect example of something.

   The lion is often used as a symbol of courage.

4. 4
   verb

   To act as a symbol of something; to symbolize.

   For many people, the broken wall came to symbol freedom.

From French symbole, from Latin symbolus, symbolum (“a sign, mark, token, symbol, in Late Latin also a creed”), from Ancient Greek σύμβολον (súmbolon, “a sign by which one infers something; a mark, token, badge, ticket, tally, check, a signal, watchword, outward sign”), from συμβάλλω (sumbállō, “to throw together, dash together, compare, correspond, tally, come to a conclusion”), from σύν (sún, “with, together”) + βάλλω (bállō, “to throw, put”).

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