Reading Theme:
Symbol: Definition, Common Uses & Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：representative sign (symbol)
symbol
/ˈsɪmb(ə)l/
n.
An object, picture, or person that represents a larger idea, feeling, or quality.
representative sign
➕
/ˌrɛprɪˈzɛntətɪv saɪn/
n.
A concrete object, image, or figure that stands for or evokes an abstract idea, quality, or condition.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Greek 'symbolon' (token, pledge), from 'sym-' (together) + 'ballein' (to throw).
💡 Mnemonic
Think of a SIMple BOLt as a SYMBOL for a toolbox: a simple object representing a bigger set.
📖 Example
In many cultures, the olive branch is a symbol of peace and forgiveness.
Across many cultures, the olive branch serves as a universal representative sign for peace and reconciliation.
🔗 Collocations
status symbol – a possession intended to indicate a person's high social or economic position
national symbol – an emblem, object, or concept that is officially recognized as representing a nation
religious symbol – an iconic representation intended to represent a specific religion, or a concept within a religion
🔄 Synonyms
emblem (n.) – a heraldic device or symbolic object as a distinctive badge of a nation, organization, or family
token (n.) – a thing serving as a visible or tangible representation of a fact, quality, feeling, etc.
representation (n.) – an image, model, or other depiction of something
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
In ancient Greece, a 'symbolon' was a token, such as a broken piece of a coin or pottery, that two parties kept as a pledge or a means of later identification and reunification.
Meaning 2：conventional sign (symbol)
symbol
/ˈsɪmb(ə)l/
n.
A sign, letter, or shape that has a fixed meaning and is used to represent something specific.
conventional sign
➕
/kənˈvɛnʃənl saɪn/
n.
A standardized mark, character, or diagram used in a particular field to denote a specific item, concept, or instruction.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
On this map, a small tent is the symbol for a campsite, and a crossed knife and fork means there's a restaurant.
This map uses a small tent as its conventional sign for a campsite, while a crossed knife and fork indicates a restaurant.
🔗 Collocations
chemical symbol – one or two letters representing a chemical element (e.g., H for hydrogen)
mathematical symbol – a character or sign used to denote a mathematical operation, relation, or object (e.g., +, =, π)
map symbol – a graphic pattern or shape used on a map to represent a feature
🔄 Synonyms
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