ideogram

[ id-ee-uh-gram, ahy-dee- ]

/ ˈɪd i əˌgræm, ˈaɪ di- /

noun

a written symbol that represents an idea or object directly rather than a particular word or speech sound, as a Chinese character.

a written symbol, as 7, =, or &; a logogram.

Origin of ideogram

First recorded in 1830–40; ideo- + -gram¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ideogram

The common Sumerian ideogram for the name of the Tigris is al-al, an intensified form of al, which means “running” or “rushing”.
Sumerian Hymns|Frederick Augustus Vanderburgh
H” gives us a picture of a reed, the late cuneiform character being the ideogram for “kanu” which means a “reed.
Mesopotamian Archaeology|Percy S. P. Handcock
The next step forward is the development of the ideogram into the phonogram, or sound sign.
Books Before Typography|Frederick W. Hamilton
Further evidence to the same effect is given by the ancient writing, in which the ideogram for king was a star.
A History of Art in Chalda & Assyria, v. 1|Georges Perrot

In such cases the ideogram is not merely a determinative nor yet quite a word-sign.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 1|Various

British Dictionary definitions for ideogram

ideogram

ideograph (ˈɪdɪəʊˌɡrɑːf, -ˌɡræf)

/ (ˈɪdɪəʊˌɡræm) /

noun

a sign or symbol, used in such writing systems as those of China or Japan, that directly represents a concept, idea, or thing rather than a word or set of words for it

any graphic sign or symbol, such as %, @, &, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ideogram

ideogram

1838, from comb. form of Greek idea (see idea) + -gram.

ideogram

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of ideogram

Examples from the Web for ideogram

ideogram

ideograph (ˈɪdɪəʊˌɡrɑːf, -ˌɡræf)

noun

ideogram