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symptom

[ simp-tuhm ]
/ ˈsɪmp təm /
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See synonyms for: symptom / symptoms on Thesaurus.com

noun
any phenomenon or circumstance accompanying something and serving as evidence of it.
a sign or indication of something.
Pathology. a phenomenon that arises from and accompanies a particular disease or disorder and serves as an indication of it.
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Origin of symptom

1350–1400; Middle English <Late Latin symptōma<Greek sýmptōma occurrence, that which falls together with something, equivalent to sym-sym- + ptō- (variant stem of píptein to fall) + -ma noun suffix of result

OTHER WORDS FROM symptom

pre·symp·tom, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use symptom in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for symptom

symptom
/ (ˈsɪmptəm) /

noun
med any sensation or change in bodily function experienced by a patient that is associated with a particular diseaseCompare sign (def. 9)
any phenomenon or circumstance accompanying something and regarded as evidence of its existence; indication

Derived forms of symptom

symptomless, adjective

Word Origin for symptom

C16: from Late Latin symptōma, from Greek sumptōma chance, from sumpiptein to occur, from syn- + piptein to fall
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

Scientific definitions for symptom

symptom
[ sĭmtəm ]

A subjective indication of a disorder or disease, such as pain, nausea or weakness. Symptoms may be accompanied by objective signs of disease such as abnormal laboratory test results or findings during a physical examination. Compare sign.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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