Meaning & use
symbol
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Meanings
nouncountable
A picture, object or mark that stands for an idea, quality or group because people have agreed to link them.
Grammar: Usually followed by of: a symbol of hope.
Patterns
- a symbol of something
- a symbol for something
- a symbol that represents something
The olive branch is an old symbol of peace.
Children learn to recognize the recycling symbol on packaging.
For many fans, the stadium has become a symbol of the city's pride.
nouncountabletechnical
A letter, character or sign used in writing, science or mathematics as shorthand for a quantity, element, sound or operation.
Grammar: Often used with for: the symbol for gold is Au.
Patterns
- the symbol for something
- a chemical symbol
- a mathematical symbol
The symbol for water in a chemical formula is H2O.
Press the key with the pound symbol on it.
Each phonetic symbol in the chart stands for one sound.
Word forms
| plural | symbols |
|---|
Common combinations
- a powerful symbol
- The fallen wall became a powerful symbol of change.
- a national symbol
- The maple leaf is a national symbol of Canada.
- a status symbol
- For some people, an expensive watch is a status symbol.
- a chemical symbol
- Each element on the table has its own chemical symbol.
- a religious symbol
- She wore a small religious symbol on a chain.
Synonyms and how they differ
- emblem
- An emblem is a design chosen to stand for a particular group or organization, so it is narrower than symbol, which can be any meaningful object or idea.
- sign
- A sign points to or announces something, often directly, while a symbol stands for something more abstract.
- icon
- Icon suggests a small picture, especially on a screen, or a person admired as a representative figure, rather than any kind of stand-in.
- token
- A token is a small object or gesture that represents a feeling, such as gratitude, and is usually less weighty than a symbol.
Word family
- symbolic adjective
- acting as a symbol or relating to symbols
- symbolize verb
- to stand for or represent something
- symbolism noun
- the use of symbols to express ideas
- symbolically adverb
- in a way that represents an idea rather than being literal
Commonly confused: symbol or cymbal?
symbol vs cymbal
A cymbal is a metal plate struck in music. It sounds the same as symbol but is spelled differently and has nothing to do with representing ideas.
Practice
The dove is often used as a ___ of peace.
Choose one answer.
A symbol is an object that stands for an idea, here peace. Cymbal is a musical instrument that sounds similar, and a signal gives a warning or cue rather than representing a concept.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “symbol”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.