Talk:symbol

Strange def

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

What is this supposed to mean? DAVilla 17:31, 4 July 2011 (UTC)

@DAVilla: I see there are examples now. It's a weird way of describing it though. Can you think of a better phrasing? Equinox ◑ 19:28, 3 July 2020 (UTC)

@Equinox A thing considered the embodiment of a concept or object? SpinningSpark 11:00, 4 July 2020 (UTC)

By the way, lions are inveterate cowards, always choosing the young or the weak to attack, preferably many-to-one. Not a symbol of courage to my mind. Don't think lambs are noticeably patient either. SpinningSpark 11:00, 4 July 2020 (UTC)

@Spinningspark: Yeah I think your definition is 100x better. (Doesn't really matter whether lions are a good/appropriate symbol of courage or not; they just seem to be one that survived in human culture.) Equinox ◑ 00:49, 9 July 2020 (UTC)

Cambridge Grammar of the English Language

Page 1572 of the Cambridge Grammar of the English Language reads:

Through contains three symbols: composite th + simple r + composite ough (corresponding to /θ/, /r/, and /u/ respectively).

--Backinstadiums (talk) 17:23, 3 July 2020 (UTC)