Symbol
/ˈsɪmbəl/
Definitions
2 meaningsA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.
/ˈsɪmbəl/
A thing that represents or stands for something else.
The flag of the United States is a symbol of freedom and democracy.
💡 Simply: A symbol is like a special picture or object that stands for a bigger idea or meaning. Imagine a heart – that's a symbol of love! Or a stop sign – it's a symbol to tell you to stop.
👶 For kids: A symbol is a picture or thing that means something else. Like a red heart means love!
More Examples
The Olympic rings are a symbol of international unity and cooperation.
The dove is a symbol of peace and is often used in political and social contexts.
How It's Used
"The dove is a symbol of peace."
"The plus sign (+) is a symbol for addition."
"The cross is a powerful symbol of Christianity."
"The raven in Poe's poem serves as a symbol of death."
To represent something by a symbol; be a symbol of.
/ˈsɪmbəl/
To represent something by a symbol.
The raven in the poem symbolizes impending doom.
💡 Simply: To symbolize something is like using a special object or image to *show* what something else means. The artist used a red rose to symbolize love in the painting.
👶 For kids: To symbolize means to use something to stand for something else. The colors might symbolize different things in a picture.
More Examples
The statue of the lion symbolizes strength and courage.
White often symbolizes purity in Western cultures.
How It's Used
"The author cleverly symbolized hope through the image of a blooming flower."
"The artist often used the color blue to symbolize sadness in his paintings."
Synonyms
Allegory
Emblem
Icon
Metaphor
Representation
Sign
Embody
Represent
Signify
Idioms & expressions
status symbol
An object or possession that indicates a person's wealth, prestige, or social standing.
"A luxury car is often seen as a status symbol."
power symbol
An object, image, or concept that represents authority, control, or influence.
"A crown is a traditional power symbol."
From Late Latin *symbolum*, from Greek *symbolon* meaning 'a sign, token, mark', originally 'a thing thrown or put together' (as in a contract, where two parties threw or put together a token).
The use of 'symbol' can be traced back to ancient Greece. It initially referred to a token or a sign.
Memory tip
Think of a flag; it is a symbol of a country.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: symbolon