symptom

[simp-tuh m] /ˈsɪmp təm/

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.

Origin

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

Related forms

presymptom, noun

Synonyms

2. signal, token, mark.

Examples from the web for symptom

Cold intolerance can be a symptom of a metabolic problem.
It's a growing symptom of a deeper social problem that is better discussed in another forum.
But insomnia can sometimes be a symptom of a larger problem.
Sadly, the government chose to treat that outbreak as a security problem rather than as a symptom of wider social ills.
The first problem he noticed was a difficulty seeing at night, a common early symptom.
In that case, conversion experiences are simply a symptom of a wider problem.
Politics aside, this event represents not a problem but a symptom of a larger problem.
If the movement problem is a symptom of another medical condition, that condition should also be treated.
He didn't view the city's main problem as financial: the financial problems were the symptom.
Global warming is a symptom of a much larger problem.

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 disease Compare sign (sense 9)

any phenomenon or circumstance accompanying something and regarded as evidence of its existence; indication

Derived Forms

symptomless, adjective

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for symptom

1540s, earlier sinthoma (late 14c.), from Medieval Latin sinthoma "symptom of a disease," from Late Latin symptoma, from Greek symptoma (genitive symptomatos) "a happening, accident, disease," from stem of sympiptein "to befall," from syn- "together" (see syn-) + piptein "to fall," from PIE *pi-pt-, reduplicated form of root *pet- "to rush; to fly" (see petition (n.)). Spelling altered in English by influence of Middle French and Late Latin forms. Symptomatic in general sense of "indicative (of)" is from 1751.

symptom in Medicine

symptom symp·tom (sĭm'təm, sĭmp'-)
n.
An indication of disorder or disease, especially when experienced by an individual as a change from normal function, sensation, or appearance. Also called sign.

symptom in Science

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.