symbol

symbol
/sim"beuhl/, n., v., symboled, symboling or (esp. Brit.) symbolled, symbolling.
n.
1. something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign.
2. a letter, figure, or other character or mark or a combination of letters or the like used to designate something: the algebraic symbol x; the chemical symbol Au.
3. a word, phrase, image, or the like having a complex of associated meanings and perceived as having inherent value separable from that which is symbolized, as being part of that which is symbolized, and as performing its normal function of standing for or representing that which is symbolized: usually conceived as deriving its meaning chiefly from the structure in which it appears, and generally distinguished from a sign.
v.t.
4. to symbolize.
[1400-50; late ME < L symbolum < Gk sýmbolon sign, equiv. to sym- SYM- + -bolon, neut. for bolé (fem.) a throw]

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Element of communication intended to represent or stand for a person, object, group, process, or idea.

Symbols may be presented graphically (e.g., the red cross and crescent for the worldwide humanitarian agency) or representationally (e.g., a lion representing courage). They may involve associated letters (e.g., C for the chemical element carbon), or they may be assigned arbitrarily (e.g., the mathematical symbol ∞ for infinity). Symbols are devices by which ideas are transmitted between people sharing a common culture. Every society has evolved a symbol system that reflects a specific cultural logic; and every symbolism functions to communicate information between members of the culture in much the same way as, but more subtly than, conventional language. Symbols tend to appear in clusters and to depend on one another for their accretion of meaning and value. See also semiotics.

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 a communication element intended to simply represent or stand for a complex of person, object, group, or idea. Symbols may be presented graphically, as in the cross for Christianity and the red cross or crescent for the life-preserving agencies of Christian and Islamic countries (see Red Cross and Red Crescent; representationally, as in the human figures Marianne, John Bull, and Uncle Sam standing for France, England, and the United States, respectively; they may involve letters, as in K for the chemical element potassium; or they may be assigned arbitrarily, as in the mathematical symbol ∞ for infinity or the symbol $ for dollar.

      In various philosophical contexts and particularly in semiotics, a branch of metalogic, very precise distinctions are made between symbol and sign. See also sign.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Symbol — des Sternbildes Löwe Der Terminus Symbol (aus dem Griechischen: Etwas Zusammengefügtes) oder auch Sinnbild wird im Allgemeinen für Bedeutungsträger (Zeichen, Wörter, Gegenstände, Vorgänge etc.) verwendet, die eine Vorstellung meinen (von etwas,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Symbol — es una empresa adquirida por Motorola que comercializa sistemas de radiofrecuencia computarizada, entre otros productos. El uso habitual de este tipo de sistemas es para capturar por medio de su láser, códigos de barras de tiendas de autoservicio …   Wikipedia Español

  • symbol — 1 Symbol, emblem, attribute, type can all denote a perceptible thing that stands for or suggests something invisible or intangible. Symbol and emblem are often used interchangeably but they can be so used as to convey clearly distinguishable… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Symbol — Sym bol (s[i^]m b[o^]l), n. [L. symbolus, symbolum, Gr. sy mbolon a sign by which one knows or infers a thing, from symba llein to throw or put together, to compare; sy n with + ba llein to throw: cf. F. symbole. Cf. {Emblem}, {Parable}.] 1. A… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • symbol — {{/stl 13}}{{stl 8}}rz. mnż III, D. u; lm D. i {{/stl 8}}{{stl 20}} {{/stl 20}}{{stl 12}}1. {{/stl 12}}{{stl 7}} pojęcie, wyobrażenie, znak, przedmiot kojarzący się z innym pojęciem, wyobrażeniem, znakiem, przedmiotem, pełniący funkcję zastępczą… …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • Symbol — Sn std. (15. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus l. symbolum, dieses aus gr. sýmbolon, eigentlich: Erkennungszeichen zwischen Gastfreunden (u.ä.) , zu gr. symbállein zusammenbringen, zusammenwerfen , zu gr. bállein treffen, werfen und gr. syn . Für das …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • symbol — [sim′bəl] n. [< Fr & L: Fr symbole < L symbolus, symbolum < Gr symbolon, token, pledge, sign by which one infers a thing < symballein, to throw together, compare < syn , together + ballein, to throw: see BALL2] 1. something that… …   English World dictionary

  • Symbol — Sym bol, v. t. To symbolize. [R.] Tennyson. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Symbol — (v. gr. Symbŏlon, lat. Symbŏlum, d.i. eigentlich Zusammengestelltes) 1) Merkmal, Wahrzeichen, Kennzeichen, woran man etwas erkennt, woraus man etwas vermuthet od. schließt, so ein Gegenstand, welcher einem ausgesetzten Kinde mitgegeben wurde u.… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Symbōl — (griech., lat. symbolum), Erkennungs oder Merkzeichen, daher auch soviel wie Parole, meist aber gebraucht gleich Sinnbild: eine sinnliche Vorstellung (ein Bild), durch die eine selbst nicht sinnliche, sondern abstrakte Vorstellung (ein Sinn)… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Symbol — (lat. symbolum), Sinnbild, ursprünglich die zusammenpassenden Hälften eines Täfelchens oder Ringes, woran sich Gastfreunde erkannten, demnach ein Erkennungszeichen, aus welchem sich später der Begriff des Sinnbildes entwickelte. Symbolik ist… …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

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