a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract 象征 the limousine was another symbol of his wealth and authority. 豪华轿车是他财富和权力的又一象征。 ■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 符号 ■a shape or sign used to represent something such as an organization, e.g. a red cross or a Star of David 标志
(symbolled, symbolling; 美 symboled, symboling)
[with obj.](archaic)symbolize (古)象征
语源
late Middle English (denoting the Apostles' Creed): from Latin symbolum 'symbol', Creed (as the mark of a Christian), from Greek sumbolon 'mark, token', from sun- 'with' + ballein 'to throw'