Symbol vs. Sign

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.

Signnoun

A visible indication.

Signnoun

Physical evidence left by an animal.

Signnoun

A clearly visible object, generally flat, bearing a short message in words or pictures.

Signnoun

A wonder; miracle; prodigy.

Signnoun

(astrology) An astrological sign.

Signnoun

(mathematics) Positive or negative polarity. (Note: it is improper to place a sign on the number zero)

Signnoun

A specific gesture or motion used to communicate by those with speaking or hearing difficulties; now specifically, a linguistic unit in sign language equivalent to word in spoken languages.

Signnoun

(uncountable) Sign language in general.

Signnoun

An omen.

Signnoun

(medicine) A property of the body that indicates a disease and, unlike a symptom, is unlikely to be noticed by the patient.

Signnoun

A military emblem carried on a banner or standard.

Signverb

To make a mark

Signverb

To seal (a document etc.) with an identifying seal or symbol.

Signverb

(transitive) To mark, to put or leave a mark on.

Signverb

(transitive) To validate or ratify (a document) by writing one's signature on it.

Signverb

(transitive) More generally, to write one's signature on (something) as a means of identification etc.

Signverb

To write (one's name) as a signature.

Signverb

(intransitive) To write one's signature.

Signverb

(intransitive) To finalise a contractual agreement to work for a given sports team, record label etc.

Signverb

(transitive) To engage (a sports player, musician etc.) in a contract.

Signverb

To make the sign of the cross

Signverb

(transitive) To bless (someone or something) with the sign of the cross; to mark with the sign of the cross.

Signverb

(reflexive) To cross oneself.

Signverb

To indicate

Signverb

(intransitive) To communicate using a gesture or signal.

Signverb

(transitive) To communicate using gestures to (someone).

Signverb

(intransitive) To use sign language.

Signverb

(transitive) To furnish (a road etc.) with signs.

Signnoun

That by which anything is made known or represented; that which furnishes evidence; a mark; a token; an indication; a proof.

Signnoun

Something serving to indicate the existence, or preserve the memory, of a thing; a token; a memorial; a monument.

Signnoun

Any symbol or emblem which prefigures, typifles, or represents, an idea; a type; hence, sometimes, a picture.

Signnoun

A word or a character regarded as the outward manifestation of thought; as, words are the sign of ideas.

Signnoun

Hence, one of the gestures of pantomime, or of a language of a signs such as those used by the North American Indians, or those used by the deaf and dumb.

Signnoun

A military emblem carried on a banner or a standard.

Signnoun

The twelfth part of the ecliptic or zodiac.

Signnoun

A character indicating the relation of quantities, or an operation performed upon them; as, the sign + (plus); the sign - (minus); the sign of division ÷, and the like.

Signnoun

Any character, as a flat, sharp, dot, etc.

Signverb

To represent by a sign; to make known in a typical or emblematic manner, in distinction from speech; to signify.

Signverb

To make a sign upon; to mark with a sign.

Signverb

To affix a signature to; to ratify by hand or seal; to subscribe in one's own handwriting.

Signverb

To assign or convey formally; - used with away.

Signverb

To mark; to make distinguishable.

Signverb

To be a sign or omen.

Signverb

To make a sign or signal; to communicate directions or intelligence by signs.

Signverb

To write one's name, esp. as a token of assent, responsibility, or obligation.

Signnoun

a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened);

Signnoun

a public display of a (usually written) message;

Signnoun

any communication that encodes a message;

Signnoun

structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted;

Signnoun

(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided

Signnoun

(medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease;

Signnoun

having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges);

Signnoun

an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come;

Signnoun

a gesture that is part of a sign language

Signnoun

a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified;

Signnoun

a character indicating a relation between quantities;

Signverb

mark with one's signature; write one's name (on);

Signverb

approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation;

Signverb

be engaged by a written agreement;

Signverb

engage by written agreement;

Signverb

communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs;

Signverb

place signs, as along a road;

Signverb

communicate in sign language;

Signverb

make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate

Signadjective

used of the language of the deaf

Signnoun

an object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else

Signnoun

something regarded as an indication of what is happening or going to happen

Signnoun

used to indicate that someone or something is not where they should be or are expected to be

Signnoun

an indication of a disease detectable by a medical practitioner even if not apparent to the patient

Signnoun

a miracle regarded as evidence of supernatural power (chiefly in biblical and literary use)

Signnoun

the trail of a wild animal

Signnoun

a gesture or action used to convey information or an instruction

Signnoun

an action or reaction that conveys something about someone

Signnoun

a gesture used in a system of sign language.

Signnoun

short for sign language

Signnoun

a symbol or word used to represent an operation, instruction, concept, or object in algebra, music, or other subjects

Signnoun

a word or gesture given according to prior arrangement as a means of identification; a password.

Signnoun

a notice on public display that gives information or instructions in a written or symbolic form

Signnoun

each of the twelve equal sections into which the zodiac is divided, named from the constellations formerly situated in each, and associated with successive periods of the year according to the position of the sun on the ecliptic

Signnoun

the positiveness or negativeness of a quantity

Signverb

write one's name on (a letter, card, document, etc.) to identify oneself as the writer or sender

Signverb

authorize (a document or other written or printed material) by attaching a signature

Signverb

write (one's name) for purposes of identification or authorization

Signverb

engage (someone, typically a sports player or a musician) to work for one by signing a contract with them

Signverb

commit oneself to work by signing a contract

Signverb

use gestures to convey information or instructions

Signverb

communicate in sign language

Signverb

express or perform (something) in sign language

Signverb

indicate with signposts or other markers

Signverb

mark or consecrate with the sign of the cross

Sign

A sign is an object, quality, event, or entity whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else. A natural sign bears a causal relation to its object—for instance, thunder is a sign of storm, or medical symptoms a sign of disease.