Noun

symbol (plural symbols)

1. A character or glyph representing an idea, concept or object.

   $ is the symbol for dollars in the US and some other countries.

   '#' is the hash symbol.

   Chinese people use symbols for writing.

2. Any object, typically material, which is meant to represent another (usually abstract) even if there is no meaningful relationship.

   The dollar symbol has no relationship to the concept of currency or any related idea.

3. (linguistics) A type of noun whereby the form refers to the same entity independently of the context; a symbol arbitrarily denotes a referent. See also icon and index.
4. A summary of a dogmatic statement of faith.

   The Apostles, Nicene Creed and the confessional books of Protestantism, such as the Augsburg Confession of Lutheranism are considered symbols.

Derived terms

• status symbol
• typographical symbol

Related terms

• symbolic
• symbolize
• symbolism

Verb

to symbol (third-person singular simple present symbols, present participle symboling, simple past and past participle symboled)

1. To symbolize

A symbol is something such as an object, picture, written word, sound, or particular mark that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On maps, crossed sabres may indicate a battlefield. Numerals are symbols for numbers (amounts). All language consists of symbols. Personal names are symbols representing individuals.

Overview

Psychology has found that people, and even animals, can respond to symbols as if they were the objects they represent. Ivan Pavlov's dogs salivated when they heard a sound which they associated with food, even if there was no food (which was the beginning of behaviorism) (see also learning).