Definition of SYMPTOM

symptom

Plural: symptoms

Noun

  • An indication or sign of the existence of something, especially an illness.
  • (medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease
  • anything that accompanies X and is regarded as an indication of X's existence
  • A perceived change in some function, sensation or appearance of a person that indicates a disease or disorder, such as fever, headache or rash; strictly, a symptom is felt or experienced by the patient, while a sign can be detected by an observer.
  • A signal; anything that indicates, or is characteristic of, the presence of something else, especially of something undesirable.

Examples

  • A high-scoring word is usually a SYMPTOM of a well-played Words With Friends turn.
  • Lying, hiding one's true feelings, and having affairs are typical symptoms of a doomed marriage.
  • Swollen breasts, morning sickness, and a missed period are classic symptoms of pregnancy.
  • The doctor told that his coughing and sneezing was the symptom of standing for too long in the rain.

Origin / Etymology

From Ancient Greek σύμπτωμα (súmptōma, “a happening, accident, symptom of disease”), from stem of συμπίπτω (sumpíptō, “Ι befall”), from συν- (sun-, “together”) + πίπτω (píptō, “I fall”).

Antonyms

Treatment of symptoms versus treatment of cause

Scrabble Score: 16

symptom: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
symptom: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
symptom: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

symptom: valid Words With Friends Word