symbol

Universal Words noun 1 ~ (of sth) a person, an object, an event, etc. that represents a more general quality or situation: White has always been a symbol of purity in Western cultures. * Mandela became a symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle. 2 ~ (for sth) a sign, number, letter, etc. that has a fixed meaning, especially in science, mathematics and music: What is the chemical symbol for copper? * A list of symbols used on the map is given in the index. seealsoSEXSYMBOL, STATUSSYMBOL