HIEROGLYPHIC

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hieroglyphic mean? 

• HIEROGLYPHIC (noun)
  The noun HIEROGLYPHIC has 2 senses:

1. writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible)

2. a writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt

  Familiarity information: HIEROGLYPHIC used as a noun is rare.

• HIEROGLYPHIC (adjective)
  The adjective HIEROGLYPHIC has 2 senses:

1. resembling hieroglyphic writing

2. written in or belonging to a writing system using pictorial symbols

  Familiarity information: HIEROGLYPHIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HIEROGLYPHIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

hieroglyph; hieroglyphic

Hypernyms ("hieroglyphic" is a kind of...):

writing (letters or symbols that are written or imprinted on a surface to represent the sounds or words of a language)

Derivation:

hieroglyphic (resembling hieroglyphic writing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

hieroglyph; hieroglyphic

Hypernyms ("hieroglyphic" is a kind of...):

orthography; writing system (a method of representing the sounds of a language by written or printed symbols)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "hieroglyphic"):

hieratic; hieratic script (a cursive form of Egyptian hieroglyphics; used especially by the priests)

Derivation:

hieroglyphic (written in or belonging to a writing system using pictorial symbols)

• HIEROGLYPHIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Resembling hieroglyphic writing

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

hieroglyphic; hieroglyphical

Pertainym:

hieroglyph (writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible))

Derivation:

hieroglyphic (writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Written in or belonging to a writing system using pictorial symbols

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

hieroglyphic; hieroglyphical

Pertainym:

hieroglyph (a writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt)

Derivation:

hieroglyphic (a writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt)

 Context examples 

He tore off a strip of the blotting-paper and turned towards us the following hieroglyphic: hieroglyphic

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)