[glyph] n [Gk glyphe carved work, fr. glyphein to carve--more at cleave] (1775) 1: an ornamental vertical groove esp. in a Doric frieze
2: a symbolic figure or a character (as in the Mayan system of writing) usu. incised or carved in relief
3: a symbol (as a curved arrow on a road sign) that conveys information nonverbally -- glyph.ic adj