Symbol vs. Metaphor

Symbolnoun

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

Symbolnoun

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

Symbolnoun

(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.

Symbolnoun

A summary of a dogmatic statement of faith.

Symbolnoun

Visible traces or impressions, made using a writing device or tool, that are connected together and/or are slightly separated. Sometimes symbols represent objects or events that occupy space or things that are not physical and do not occupy space.

Symbolnoun

(crystallography) The numerical expression which defines a plane's position relative to the assumed axes.

Symbolnoun

(obsolete) That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty.

Symbolnoun

(obsolete) Share; allotment.

Symbolnoun

(programming) An internal identifier used by a debugger to relate parts of the compiled program to the corresponding names in the source code.

Symbolverb

To symbolize.

Symbolnoun

A visible sign or representation of an idea; anything which suggests an idea or quality, or another thing, as by resemblance or by convention; an emblem; a representation; a type; a figure; as, the lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb is the symbol of meekness or patience.

Symbolnoun

Any character used to represent a quantity, an operation, a relation, or an abbreviation.

Symbolnoun

An abstract or compendium of faith or doctrine; a creed, or a summary of the articles of religion.

Symbolnoun

That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty.

Symbolnoun

Share; allotment.

Symbolnoun

An abbreviation standing for the name of an element and consisting of the initial letter of the Latin or New Latin name, or sometimes of the initial letter with a following one; as, C for carbon, Na for sodium (Natrium), Fe for iron (Ferrum), Sn for tin (Stannum), Sb for antimony (Stibium), etc. See the list of names and symbols under Element.

Symbolverb

To symbolize.

Symbolnoun

an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance

Symbolnoun

something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible;

Symbolnoun

a mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process, e.g. the letter or letters standing for a chemical element or a character in musical notation

Symbolnoun

a shape or sign used to represent something such as an organization, e.g. a red cross or a Star of David

Symbolnoun

a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract

Symbolverb

symbolize.

Symbol

A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different concepts and experiences.

Metaphornoun

The use of a word or phrase to refer to something that it is not, invoking a direct similarity between the word or phrase used and the thing described (but in the case of English without the words like or as, which would imply a simile); the word or phrase used in this way; an implied comparison.

Metaphornoun

The use of an everyday object or concept to represent an underlying facet of the computer and thus aid users in performing tasks.

Metaphorverb

(intransitive) To use a metaphor.

Metaphorverb

(transitive) To describe by means of a metaphor.

Metaphornoun

The transference of the relation between one set of objects to another set for the purpose of brief explanation; a compressed simile; e. g., the ship plows the sea.

Metaphornoun

a figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity

Metaphornoun

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable

Metaphornoun

a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else

Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide (or obscure) clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas.