What is "emblem"

Emblem \Em"blem\, n. [F. embl[`e]me, L. emblema, -atis, that which is put in or on, inlaid work, fr. Gr. ? a thing put in or on, fr. ? to throw, lay, put in; ? in + ? to throw. See In, and Parable.]

1. Inlay; inlaid or mosaic work; something ornamental inserted in a surface. [Obs.]
   --Milton.

2. 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 figurative representation; a typical designation; a symbol; as, a balance is an emblem of justice; a scepter, the emblem of sovereignty or power; a circle, the emblem of eternity. ``His cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his sinister cheek.''
   --Shak.

3. A picture accompanied with a motto, a set of verse, or the like, intended as a moral lesson or meditation.

   Note: Writers and artists of the 17th century gave much attention and study to the composition of such emblems, and many collections of them were published.

   Syn: Sign; symbol; type; device; signal; token.

   Usage: Sign, Emblem, Symbol, Type. Sign is the generic word comprehending all significant representations. An emblem is a visible object representing another by a natural suggestion of characteristic qualities, or an habitual and recognized association; as, a circle, having no apparent beginning or end, is an emblem of eternity; a particular flag is the emblem of the country or ship which has adopted it for a sign and with which it is habitually associated. Between emblem and symbol the distinction is slight, and often one may be substituted for the other without impropriety. See Symbol. Thus, a circle is either an emblem or a symbol of eternity; a scepter, either an emblem or a symbol of authority; a lamb, either an emblem or a symbol of meekness. ``An emblem is always of something simple; a symbol may be of something complex, as of a transaction . . . In consequence we do not speak of actions emblematic.''
   --C. J. Smith. A type is a representative example, or model, exhibiting the qualities common to all individuals of the class to which it belongs; as, the Monitor is a type of a class of war vessels.

Emblem \Em"blem\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emblemed; p. pr. & vb. n. Embleming.] To represent by an emblem; to symbolize. [R.]

Emblemed by the cozening fig tree.
--Feltham.

1580s, "relief, raised ornament on vessels, etc.," from Latin emblema "inlaid ornamental work," from Greek emblema (genitive emblematos) "an insertion," from emballein "to insert," literally "to throw in," from assimilated form of en "in" (see en- (2)) + ballein "to throw" (see ballistics). Meaning "allegorical drawing or picture" is from 1730, via sense development in French emblème "symbol" (16c.).

n. 1 A representative symbol, such as a trademark or logo. 2 Something which represents a larger whole. 3 Inlay; inlaid or mosaic work; something ornamental inserted in a surface. 4 A picture accompanied with a motto, a set of verses, etc. intended as a moral lesson or meditation.

1. n. special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc.

2. a visible symbol representing an abstract idea [syn: allegory]

An emblem is an abstract or representational pictorial image that represents a concept, like a moral truth, or an allegory, or a person, like a king or saint.