Symptom Symptom

Symptom - Definition and Overview

Related Words: Affection, Affliction, Ailment, Allergy, Atrophy, Badge, Banner, Blight, Character, Characteristic, Clue, Complaint, Complication, Condition, Cue

The term symptom (from the Greek syn = con/plus and pipto = fall, together meaning co-exist) has two similar meanings in the context of physical and mental health:

  • A symptom can be a physical condition which shows that one has a particular illness or disorder (see e.g. Longman, 1995). An example of a symptom in this sense of the word would be a rash.
  • A symptom can also refer to a sensation or change in health function experienced by a patient. In this sense of the word, it is a subjective report, as opposed to a sign, which is objective evidence of the presence of a disease or disorder. Examples of symptoms are fatigue/tiredness, pain, or nausea. In contrast, elevated blood pressure, or abnormal appearance of the retina, would be signs of disease.

See also

Reference

  • Longman dictionary of contemporary English (1995). Third edition.

Example Usage of Symptom

Twit_Review: Is Fort Hood a Harbinger? Nidal Malik Hasan May Be a Symptom of a ...: What if Thursday's atrocious slaught.. http://bit.ly/bXmAM
zigzagem92: I'm getting withdrawal Symptom from not having the internet at home :/
Jembcotech: IMF"s Boutros-Ghali says FX problems Symptom not cause: ST ANDREWS, Scotland (Reuters) - A meeting of Group of .. http://bit.ly/3z54fx
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