Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
ideograph
noun
/ˈaɪdiəˌgræf/
Definition
A character or symbol that represents an idea or concept rather than a specific word or phrase.
Examples
- In ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs served as ideographs for various concepts.
- The Chinese writing system uses ideographs extensively to represent ideas.
- Road signs often utilize ideographs for universal understanding, like those indicating rest areas or no entry.
Meaning
Ideographs are often used in writing systems to convey meanings directly through visual symbols, independent of spoken languages.
Synonyms
- Symbol
- Sign
- Character
