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symptom

[ simp-tuhm ]
/ ˈsɪmp təm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR symptom 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

Words nearby symptom

symport, symposiac, symposiarch, symposiast, symposium, symptom, symptom complex, symptom formation, symptomatic, symptomatic anthrax, symptomatic porphyria
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to symptom

syndrome, manifestation, index, mark, note, token, warning, indication, evidence, expression, significant, indicia

Example sentences from the Web for symptom

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

Medical definitions for symptom

symptom
[ sĭm′təm, sĭmp′- ]

n.

A subjective indication of a disorder or disease, such as pain, nausea, or weakness.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for symptom

symptom
[ sĭm′təm ]

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.