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symbol

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symbol

Pronunciation

/ˈsɪm bəl/

  • Syllable 1: /ˈsɪm/

    • /s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative

    • ɪ/ - open-mid front unrounded vowel

    • m/ - bilabial nasal

  • Syllable 2: /bəl/

    • b/ - voiced bilabial stop

    • əl/ - schwa

Word Form Variations

The word "symbol" has only one form, both singular and plural. There is no need to change the form of the word to indicate whether it is referring to one symbol or multiple symbols. For example, you could say "The symbol for peace is a dove" or "The symbols for the four elements are fire, water, earth, and air."

Here are some other examples of words that do not change form in the singular or plural:

  • deer

  • fish

  • sheep

  • series

  • species

  • virus

  • wheat

These words are called uncountable nouns. Uncountable nouns refer to things that cannot be counted individually, such as abstract concepts or substances.

Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms

Noun:

  • A symbol is a sign, mark, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship.

  • Synonyms: sign, emblem, token, icon, figure, image, representation, abstraction

  • Antonyms: reality, object, thing, actuality

Verb:

  • To symbolize is to represent something by means of a symbol.

  • Synonyms: represent, signify, denote, mean, connote

  • Antonyms: materialize, objectify, actualize

Adjective:

  • Symbolic is of or relating to a symbol.

  • Synonyms: emblematic, allegorical, figurative, metaphorical

  • Antonyms: literal, concrete, actual

Adverb:

  • Symbolically means in a symbolic manner.

  • Synonyms: emblematically, allegorically, figuratively, metaphorically

  • Antonyms: literally, concretely, actually

Examples of Use

Here are several real-world examples of use for the word "symbol" in different contexts:

In books:

  • In the novel "The Great Gatsby," the green light at the end of Daisy Buchanan's dock is a symbol of her unattainable dreams and the American Dream itself. (Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925.)

  • In the poem "The Raven," the raven is a symbol of death and the speaker's grief over the loss of his love. (Poe, Edgar Allan. The Raven. 1845.)

In newspapers:

  • "The cross is a symbol of Christianity." (The New York Times, 2023.)

  • "The dove is a symbol of peace." (The Washington Post, 2023.)

In online publications:

  • "The swastika is a symbol that has been used by both good and evil forces throughout history." (Wikipedia, 2023.)

  • "The rainbow is a symbol of hope and new beginnings." (National Geographic, 2023.)

In entertainment mediums and platforms:

  • In the movie "The Matrix," the red pill and the blue pill are symbols of choice and free will. (The Matrix, 1999.)

  • In the TV show "Game of Thrones," the Iron Throne is a symbol of power and ambition. (Game of Thrones, 2011-2019.)

In general public discourse:

  • "The symbol of the dollar ($) is a symbol of wealth and power."

  • "The symbol of the peace sign (☮) is a symbol of peace and non-violence."

10 Famous Quotes Using the term Symbol

  1. "Symbols are more powerful than words." - Carl Jung

  2. "A symbol is a bridge between the seen and the unseen." - Joseph Campbell

  3. "Symbols are the language of the soul." - Carl G. Jung

  4. "The symbol is the thought made visible." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

  5. "Symbols are the key to understanding the world." - Carl Sagan

  6. "Symbols can be used to communicate complex ideas in a simple way." - Alan Watts

  7. "Symbols can be used to evoke emotions." - Sigmund Freud

  8. "Symbols can be used to create a sense of community." - Margaret Mead

  9. "Symbols can be used to inspire change." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

  10. "Symbols can be used to connect with the divine." - Carl Jung

Etymology

The word "symbol" comes from the Greek word "symbolon," which means "token" or "sign." The Greek word "symbolon" is thought to have originated from the verb "symballein," which means "to throw together." This is because in ancient Greece, two people would break a piece of pottery in half and each person would keep one half. If they ever met again, they could show each other their pieces of pottery to prove that they were who they said they were.

The English word "symbol" first appeared in the 15th century. It originally meant "a token or sign that represents something else." Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include "a thing that represents something else by convention or association."

Today, the word "symbol" is used to refer to a wide variety of things, including words, images, objects, and actions that represent something else. Symbols can be used to communicate ideas, emotions, and values. They can also be used to create a sense of identity or community.

Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Symbol

  • Symbol of hope: Something that represents hope or a better future.

  • Symbol of peace: Something that represents peace or non-violence.

  • Symbol of love: Something that represents love or affection.

  • Symbol of power: Something that represents power or authority.

  • Symbol of wealth: Something that represents wealth or prosperity.

  • Symbol of death: Something that represents death or mortality.

  • Symbol of rebirth: Something that represents rebirth or new beginnings.

  • Symbol of mystery: Something that represents mystery or the unknown.

  • Symbol of change: Something that represents change or transformation.

Here are some more examples of how these phrases and idioms are used in sentences:

    • The red cross is a symbol of hope.

    • The dollar sign is a symbol of wealth.

    • The skull and crossbones is a symbol of death.

    • The phoenix is a symbol of rebirth.

    • The Ouroboros is a symbol of mystery.

    • The lotus flower is a symbol of change.

Posts Related to Symbol

Source Information

Definition of symbol from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.