I. ˈembləm also -blim or -ˌblem noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin emblema inlaid work, tesselated work, from Greek emblēma, literally, insertion, from emballein to throw in, put in, insert, from em- en- (II) + ballein to throw — more at devil
1. : a picture with a motto or set of verses intended as a moral lesson or a subject of meditation that was common in the 17th century
2. obsolete : inlaid or mosaic work
3.
a. : a visible sign of an idea : an object or the figure of an object symbolizing and suggesting another object or an idea by natural aptness or by association
a balance is an emblem of justice
a scepter, emblem of sovereignty
b. : a typical representative : symbol
evening cooling is an emblem of autumn chill
trying to find out enough about eagles to keep our national emblem from dying out — Caroline Bird
4.
a. : a symbolic object used as a heraldic device or badge
b. : a device, symbol, design, or figure adopted and used as an identifying mark (as a publisher's colophon)
Synonyms: see symbol
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to represent by or as if by an emblem : image
emblemed with the state seal