SYMPTOM

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does symptom mean? 

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

1. (medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease

2. anything that accompanies X and is regarded as an indication of X's existence

  Familiarity information: SYMPTOM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SYMPTOM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

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

evidence; grounds (your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief)

Domain category:

medical specialty; medicine (the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques)

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

crepitation rale (the crackling sound heard on auscultation when patients with respiratory diseases inhale; associated with tuberculosis and pneumonia and congestive heart failure)

hypermenorrhea; menorrhagia (abnormally heavy or prolonged menstruation; can be a symptom of uterine tumors and can lead to anemia if prolonged)

alkalinuria; alkaluria (a condition in which the urine (which is normally slightly acidic) is alkaline)

eosinopenia (a decrease in the number of eosinophils in the blood)

haemoglobinemia; hemoglobinemia (presence of excessive hemoglobin in the blood plasma)

haemoptysis; hemoptysis (coughing up blood from the respiratory tract; usually indicates a severe infection of the bronchi or lungs)

hyperlipaemia; hyperlipemia; hyperlipidaemia; hyperlipidemia; hyperlipoidaemia; hyperlipoidemia; lipaemia; lipemia; lipidaemia; lipidemia; lipoidaemia; lipoidemia (presence of excess lipids in the blood)

albuminuria; proteinuria (the presence of excessive protein (chiefly albumin but also globulin) in the urine; usually a symptom of kidney disorder)

aminoaciduria (abnormal presence of amino acids in the urine; usually a symptom of metabolic defects)

ammoniuria (excessive ammonia in the urine)

Jacquemier's sign (a purplish discoloration of the mucous membrane of the vagina that occurs early in pregnancy)

Kayser-Fleischer ring (a pigmented ring at the outer edge of the cornea of the eye; a symptom of Wilson's disease)

keratomalacia (softening and drying and ulceration of the cornea resulting from vitamin A deficiency; symptom of cystic fibrosis or sprue)

Kernig's sign (symptom of meningitis; patient cannot extend the leg at the knee when the thigh is flexed because of stiffness in the hamstrings)

acetonemia; ketonemia; ketosis (an abnormal increase of ketone bodies in the blood as in diabetes mellitus)

Koplik's spots (small red spots with white centers found on the mucous membranes of the mouth and tongue; symptom of measles that appears one or two days before the measles rash appears)

glycosuria (the presence of abnormally high levels of sugar in the urine)

lymphuria (the presence of lymph in the urine)

monocytosis (increase in the number of monocytes in the blood; symptom of monocytic leukemia)

thrombocytosis (increase in the number of platelets in the blood which tends to cause clots to form; associated with many neoplasms and chronic infections and other diseases)

ochronosis (an accumulation of dark pigment in cartilage and other connective tissue; usually a symptom of alkaptonuria or phenol poisoning)

hypercalcaemia; hypercalcemia (the presence of abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood; usually the result of excessive bone resorption in hyperparathyroidism or Paget's disease)

hypocalcaemia; hypocalcemia (abnormally low level of calcium in the blood; associated with hypoparathyroidism or kidney malfunction or vitamin D deficiency)

hypercalcinuria; hypercalciuria (the presence of abnormally high levels of calcium in the urine; usually the result of excessive bone resorption in hyperparathyroidism or osteoporosis)

hypercholesteremia; hypercholesterolemia (the presence of an abnormal amount of cholesterol in the cells and plasma of the blood; associated with the risk of atherosclerosis)

hyperkalemia (higher than normal levels of potassium in the circulating blood; associated with kidney failure or sometimes with the use of diuretic drugs)

hypokalemia (abnormally low level of potassium in the circulating blood leading to weakness and heart abnormalities; associated with adrenal tumors or starvation or taking diuretics)

kaliuresis; kaluresis (the presence of excess potassium in the urine)

natriuresis (the presence of abnormally large amounts of sodium in the urine)

hypoproteinemia (abnormally low level of protein in the blood; can indicate inadequate diet or intestinal or renal disorders)

hypernatremia (excessive amounts of sodium in the blood; possibly indicating diabetes insipidus)

hyponatremia (abnormally low level of sodium in the blood; associated with dehydration)

hypersplenism (enlarged spleen and a decrease in one or more types of blood cells; associated with many disorders)

acetonuria; ketoaciduria; ketonuria (excessive amounts of ketone bodies in the urine as in diabetes mellitus or starvation)

amenia; amenorrhea; amenorrhoea (absence or suppression of normal menstrual flow)

aura (a sensation (as of a cold breeze or bright light) that precedes the onset of certain disorders such as a migraine attack or epileptic seizure)

chloasma; mask of pregnancy; melasma (a tan discoloration of a woman's face that is associated with pregnancy or with the use of oral contraceptives)

clubbing (a condition in which the ends of toes and fingers become wide and thick; a symptom of heart or lung disease)

cyanosis (a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes)

diuresis (increased secretion of urine; if not due to increased liquid intake or to the action of a diuretic drug it can be a symptom of diabetes mellitus)

prodroma; prodrome (an early symptom that a disease is developing or that an attack is about to occur)

syndrome (a pattern of symptoms indicative of some disease)

effect (a symptom caused by an illness or a drug)

abscess (symptom consisting of a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue)

purulence; purulency (symptom of being purulent (containing or forming pus))

exophthalmos (protrusion of the eyeball from the socket)

festination (involuntary shortening of stride and quickening of gait that occurs in some diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease))

furring (a furlike coating of matter as on the tongue)

haematuria; hematuria (the presence of blood in the urine; often a symptom of urinary tract disease)

haemoglobinuria; hemoglobinuria (presence of hemoglobin in the urine)

haemosiderosis; hemosiderosis (abnormal deposit of hemosiderin; often a symptom of thalassemia or hemochromatosis)

nebula (cloudiness of the urine)

sneeze; sneezing; sternutation (a symptom consisting of the involuntary expulsion of air from the nose)

lump; puffiness; swelling (an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement)

bubo (a lymph node that is inflamed and swollen because of plague or gonorrhea or tuberculosis)

palsy (a condition marked by uncontrollable tremor)

pyuria (presence of white blood cells in the urine; symptom of urinary tract infection)

hyperglycaemia; hyperglycemia (abnormally high blood sugar usually associated with diabetes)

hypoglycaemia; hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood sugar usually resulting from excessive insulin or a poor diet)

icterus; jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bile pigment (bilirubin) in the blood; can be a symptom of gallstones or liver infection or anemia)

congestion (excessive accumulation of blood or other fluid in a body part)

eruption (symptom consisting of a breaking out and becoming visible)

numbness (partial or total lack of sensation in a part of the body; a symptom of nerve damage or dysfunction)

hurting; pain (a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder)

paraesthesia; paresthesia (abnormal skin sensations (as tingling or tickling or itching or burning) usually associated with peripheral nerve damage)

haemorrhoid; hemorrhoid; piles (venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter)

postnasal drip (chronic secretion of mucus from the rear of the nasal cavity into the nasopharynx)

cardiomegaly; enlarged heart; megacardia; megalocardia (an abnormal enlargement of the heart)

cardiac murmur; heart murmur; murmur (an abnormal sound of the heart; sometimes a sign of abnormal function of the heart valves)

palpitation (a rapid and irregular heart beat)

heartburn; pyrosis (a painful burning sensation in the chest caused by gastroesophageal reflux (backflow from the stomach irritating the esophagus); symptomatic of an ulcer or a diaphragmatic hernia or other disorder)

flush; hot flash (sudden brief sensation of heat (associated with menopause and some mental disorders))

dyspepsia; indigestion; stomach upset; upset stomach (a disorder of digestive function characterized by discomfort or heartburn or nausea)

inflammation; redness; rubor (a response of body tissues to injury or irritation; characterized by pain and swelling and redness and heat)

chill; shivering (a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever)

ague; chills and fever (successive stages of chills and fever that is a symptom of malaria)

cough; coughing (a sudden noisy expulsion of air from the lungs that clears the air passages; a common symptom of upper respiratory infection or bronchitis or pneumonia or tuberculosis)

hiccough; hiccup; singultus ((usually plural) the state of having reflex spasms of the diaphragm accompanied by a rapid closure of the glottis producing an audible sound; sometimes a symptom of indigestion)

meningism (symptoms that mimic those of meningitis but without inflammation of the meninges)

nausea; sickness (the state that precedes vomiting)

cramp; muscle spasm; spasm (a painful and involuntary muscular contraction)

cicatrice; cicatrix; scar (a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue)

hardening (abnormal hardening or thickening of tissue)

floater; musca volitans; muscae volitantes; spots (spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens)

febricity; febrility; fever; feverishness; pyrexia (a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection)

atrophy; wasting; wasting away (a decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse)

apnea (transient cessation of respiration)

dyspnea; dyspnoea (difficult or labored respiration)

constipation; irregularity (irregular and infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowels; can be a symptom of intestinal obstruction or diverticulitis)

diarrhea; diarrhoea; looseness; looseness of the bowels (frequent and watery bowel movements; can be a symptom of infection or food poisoning or colitis or a gastrointestinal tumor)

dizziness; giddiness; lightheadedness; vertigo (a reeling sensation; a feeling that you are about to fall)

anaemia; anemia (a lack of vitality)

wheeziness (presence of abnormal high-pitched sound heard with a stethoscope when an airway is blocked (as in asthma or chronic bronchitis))

withdrawal symptom (any physical or psychological disturbance (as sweating or depression) experienced by a drug addict when deprived of the drug)

hydrophobia (a symptom of rabies in humans consisting of an aversion to swallowing liquids)

areflexia (absence of a reflex; a sign of possible nerve damage)

myoglobinuria (the presence of myoglobin in the urine)

oliguria (abnormally small production of urine; can be a symptom of kidney disease or obstruction of the urinary tract or edema or an imbalance of fluids and electrolytes in the body)

eosinophilia (a symptom of allergic states; increased eosinophils in the blood)

rhinorrhea (persistent watery mucus discharge from the nose (as in the common cold))

steatorrhea (the presence of greater than normal amounts of fat in the feces which are frothy and foul smelling and floating; a symptom of disorders of fat metabolism and malabsorption syndrome)

stridor (a whistling sound when breathing (usually heard on inspiration); indicates obstruction of the trachea or larynx)

tinnitus (a ringing or booming sensation in one or both ears; a symptom of an ear infection or Meniere's disease)

uratemia (presence of abnormal amounts of uric acid salts in the blood; symptom of gout)

uraturia (presence of abnormally large amounts of uric acid in the urine; symptom of gout)

uricaciduria (presence of abnormal amounts of uric acid in the urine; symptom of gout)

Holonyms ("symptom" is a part of...):

disease (an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning)

Derivation:

symptomatic (characteristic or indicative of a disease)

symptomatic (relating to or according to or affecting a symptom or symptoms)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Anything that accompanies X and is regarded as an indication of X's existence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

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

indicant; indication (something that serves to indicate or suggest)

Derivation:

symptomatic (characteristic or indicative of a disease)

 Context examples 

I have lately imagined that I saw symptoms of attachment between them—certain expressive looks, which I did not believe meant to be public.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

No symptoms worse than before had appeared.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

She has been suffering since yesterday from brain symptoms of great severity.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It can include emotional and physical symptoms.

(Menstruation, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

A legal drug that is used to prevent, treat, or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal condition.

(Medication, NCI Dictionary)

Absence of detectable signs or symptoms.

(Absence of Signs or Symptoms, NCI Thesaurus)

A drug used to prevent and treat symptoms of asthma.

(Accolate, NCI Dictionary)

Edmund did not discern any symptoms of regret, and thought his father a little unreasonable in supposing the first three or four days could produce any.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Half an hour passed away, and the favourable symptom yet blessed her.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Changes and symptoms can start several years earlier.

(Menopause, Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health)