symptom

Everyday

1. A sign of an illness that a person feels or notices, like a fever, cough or headache. tree →
2. A sign that something bad exists: Litter is a symptom of a careless town. tree →

In the lessons

In science and health lessons symptoms help doctors find out what illness you have: a high temperature, rash, sore throat. In safety and first aid you learn the symptoms of sunstroke, allergies or a cold. In news, a «symptom» of a problem is a sign of it.

Examples

• A runny nose is a symptom of a cold. tree →
• Tell the doctor about all your symptoms. tree →
• Fever and a rash are symptoms of chickenpox. tree →
• His symptoms got better after a day in bed. tree →
• If you have symptoms of an allergy, tell an adult straight away. tree →
• Long queues are a symptom of too few staff. tree →

Note

Spelling: symp-tom (silent p is said lightly). A symptom is what you feel; a sign is what a doctor sees or measures. Adjective: symptomatic.