symbols
symbols — noun
- symbolssingular
- symbolsesplural
1. a mark or image that people understand to represent a different thing by general
a mark or image that people understand to represent a different thing by general agreement — for instance, a red cross on a sign pointing to a hospital, or the heart shape used on a greeting card to express love.
Nora learned that a red heart is the common symbol for love in many countries.
symbol for [concept]
On the road map, a thick blue line is the symbol for a highway.
Owen drew a star symbol on the corner of the page to mark where the story began.
Most mobile apps use a small house symbol to mean "return to the main screen."
The teacher pointed to the infinity symbol on the whiteboard and asked the class what it meant.
常見錯誤
2. something that people understand to stand for an abstract quality or idea, such
something that people understand to stand for an abstract quality or idea, such as peace, freedom, or hope — not through a direct picture but through cultural or emotional association.
For thousands of years, the dove has been a symbol of peace across many cultures.
symbol of + abstract noun
Tamar wore a simple silver ring as a symbol of her promise to always help others.
The Olympic flame travels around the world as a symbol of hope and friendly competition.
In many cultures, the colour white at a wedding is a symbol of new beginnings.
Adaeze described the old mango tree as a symbol of strength for the whole village.
- emblem
more formal and official — an emblem is deliberately chosen by a group to represent its values
- token
emphasises a physical object given as a sign of feeling — a token of thanks, a token of love
- representation
broader and more neutral — something that stands for or depicts something else
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the pattern 'a symbol of + abstract noun' (peace, freedom, hope, purity). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 focuses on a conventional mark that stands for a concrete thing (e.g. $ for dollar), while sense 2 links an object or image to an abstract idea.
常見錯誤
3. any written character or other mark that has a fixed meaning within a specialise
any written character or other mark that has a fixed meaning within a specialised area — for example, the letter π for the circle ratio in geometry, or the sharp sign ♯ in a musical score.
In maths class, Erik learned that the symbol π stands for the number 3.14.
symbol stands for [value]
Lucía looked for the treble clef symbol at the beginning of each line of sheet music.
On the periodic table, the two-letter symbol for gold is Au.
Min wrote the chemical symbol H₂O on the board to show the structure of water.
The sharp symbol in a piece of music tells the player to raise the note by half a step.
- notation
a system of symbols, not a single symbol — 'musical notation' refers to the whole system
- character
a written letter or mark in a writing system, broader than technical symbols
- abbreviation
a shortened written form (e.g. 'Dr' for doctor), but not necessarily a symbol
用法筆記
Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense always involves a conventional notation within a specific field. The symbol has no emotional or cultural association — it is a technical sign with a fixed meaning (e.g. √ always means square root).
常見錯誤
4. an object, building, or place that people see as representing something larger,
an object, building, or place that people see as representing something larger, such as a nation's history, a community's values, or a shared memory, because of deep cultural or historical connections.
The Great Wall has become a lasting symbol of Chinese civilisation around the world.
lasting symbol of [abstract]
Hari explained that the olive branch is an ancient symbol of peace in Mediterranean cultures.
The old market square was restored as a symbol of the city's recovery after the earthquake.
For the local community, the school building became a symbol of hope for their children's future.
Ari showed the class a photograph of the Berlin Wall and explained what it had symbolised during the Cold War.
- icon
a person or thing that is widely admired and seen as representing a particular culture or idea — often more informal and media-related
- landmark
a physical object or place with historical importance, but not necessarily symbolic meaning
- monument
a structure built specifically to commemorate something, whereas a symbol may be unplanned
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 is about something deliberately chosen to represent an abstract quality (e.g. a dove for peace), while sense 4 is about objects or places that have grown into symbols over time through events, history, or cultural use (e.g. a stadium that becomes a symbol of a city's spirit).
常見錯誤
symbols — verb
- symbolspresent simple I / you / we / they
- symbolses3rd person singular
- symbolsing-ing form
- symbolsedpast simple
1. to stand for or represent something, especially an abstract quality or idea — th
to stand for or represent something, especially an abstract quality or idea — the standard modern verb is 'symbolize' (American) or 'symbolise' (British).
In the ancient ritual, the lighting of a candle symbolizes the arrival of a new season.
verb: [subject] symbolizes [abstract object]
Kwame explained that the patterns on the traditional cloth symbolize the unity of the people who wear them.
symbolize + that-clause
The tree that the committee planted last spring now symbolizes the neighbourhood's hope for a safer street.
In traditional art, a phoenix rising from the ashes symbolized the idea of renewal after great hardship.
文法句型
symbolize + object
symbolize + that-clause
用法筆記
The verb 'symbol' is very rare in modern English. Almost all speakers and writers use 'symbolize' (American) or 'symbolise' (British) instead. This sense is included so that learners recognise the rare form when they encounter it, but in everyday writing and speech, always use 'symbolize' or 'symbolise'.