What does "glyph" mean?
A figure carved in relief or incised, especially representing a sound, word, or idea.
Glyph
/ɡlɪf/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A figure carved in relief or incised, especially representing a sound, word, or idea.
- Grammar: glyph is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: alphabet symbol, anaglyph, ankhs, arrow.
- Useful contrasts: blank, blank rock, space.
- Usage evidence: This Mayan glyph is yet to be deciphered.
How to use "glyph"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "glyph" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "glyph" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "glyph" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "glyph" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "glyph" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "alphabet symbol" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "glyph", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A figure carved in relief or incised, especially representing a sound, word, or idea.
- 2 glyptic art in the form of a symbolic figure carved or incised in relief wordnet
- 3 A figure carved in relief or incised, especially representing a sound, word, or idea.; Any of various figures used in Mayan writing.
"human figures carved on the obverse and the reverse, and glyphs on the other faces. Slab-stelæ, on the other hand, are shorter and most of them bear inscriptions only on the reverse. Frequently associated with these stelæ are smaller monoliths known as "altars," which vary greatly in size, shape, and decoration, some bearing glyphs and others being without them."
- 4 Any non-verbal symbol that imparts information.
- 5 A visual representation of a letter, character, or symbol, in a specific font and style.
"The grid column header displays a sort glyph indicating an ascending or descending ordering."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A vertical groove.
- 7 A land snail of the genus Glyphyalinia
- 8 Any of various black-and-white noctuid moths with figural-like wing patterns, such as those in Protodeltote, Deltote, and Maliattha.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"This Mayan glyph is yet to be deciphered."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "glyph"?
Common synonyms include: alphabet symbol, anaglyph, ankhs, arrow, ayin, bas relief.
How do you use "glyph" in a sentence?
This Mayan glyph is yet to be deciphered.
How do you pronounce "glyph"?
Pronounced /ɡlɪf/.
Etymology
First attested in 1727. Borrowed from French glyphe, from Ancient Greek γλυφή (gluphḗ, “carving”), from γλύφω (glúphō, “I carve, engrave”).