HIEROGLYPH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hieroglyph mean? 

• HIEROGLYPH (noun)
  The noun HIEROGLYPH has 2 senses:

1. writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible)

2. a writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt

  Familiarity information: HIEROGLYPH used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HIEROGLYPH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

hieroglyph; hieroglyphic

Hypernyms ("hieroglyph" is a kind of...):

writing (letters or symbols that are written or imprinted on a surface to represent the sounds or words of a language)

Derivation:

hieroglyphical (resembling hieroglyphic writing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

hieroglyph; hieroglyphic

Hypernyms ("hieroglyph" is a kind of...):

orthography; writing system (a method of representing the sounds of a language by written or printed symbols)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "hieroglyph"):

hieratic; hieratic script (a cursive form of Egyptian hieroglyphics; used especially by the priests)

Derivation:

hieroglyphical (written in or belonging to a writing system using pictorial symbols)