英汉词典

1. 象征;代表
    Something that is a symbol of a society or an aspect of life seems to represent it because it is very typical of it.

    e.g. To them, the monarchy is the special symbol of nationhood...
           对他们来说，君主政体是国家地位的特殊象征。
    e.g. She was put under house arrest two years ago but remained a powerful symbol in last year's election.
           虽然两年前就已遭软禁，她在去年的选举中仍然是势力强大的代表人物。

2. 象征物;标志
    A symbol of something such as an idea is a shape or design that is used to represent it.

symbol的解释

    e.g. Later in this same passage Yeats resumes his argument for the Rose as an Irish symbol...
           随后在同一篇诗歌里，叶芝再次将玫瑰作为爱尔兰的标志。
    e.g. I frequently use sunflowers as symbols of strength.
           我经常用向日葵来作为力量的象征。

3. 符号;代号;记号
    A symbol for an item in a calculation or scientific formula is a number, letter, or shape that represents that item.

symbol的翻译

    e.g. What's the chemical symbol for mercury?
           汞的化学元素符号是什么？

4. see also: sex symbol;status symbol