IDEOGRAM

ideogram, ideograph

(noun) a graphic character that indicates the meaning of a thing without indicating the sounds used to say it; “Chinese characters are ideograms”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

ideogram (plural ideograms)

A picture or symbol which represents the idea of something without indicating the sequence of sounds used to pronounce it. Examples include digits, traffic signs, and graphic symbols such as @.

Synonyms

• (symbol): ideograph

Source: Wiktionary

I*de"o*gram, n. Etym: [Ideo- + -gram; cf. F. idéograme.]

1. An original, pictorial element of writing; a kind of hieroglyph expressing no sound, but only an idea. Ideograms may be defined to be pictures intended to represent either things or thoughts. I. Taylor (The Alphabet). You might even have a history without language written or spoken, by means of ideograms and gesture. J. Peile.

2. A symbol used for convenience, or for abbreviation; as, 1, 2, 3, +, -,

3. A phonetic symbol; a letter.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition