symptom
A symptom is a sign or warning that something is wrong with your body.
When we talk about symptoms, we often mean physical signs of illness, like headaches or fever. But sometimes symptoms can be emotional too - for example, feeling sad or anxious without knowing why. When you go to the doctor, they'll usually ask if you're experiencing any symptoms because it helps them figure out what's wrong and how to make you feel better. For instance, if you have a cold, your doctor might want to know about your cough, sore throat, and runny nose - those are all symptoms of being sick.
How common is "symptom"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
noun
(medicine) A perceived change in some function, sensation or appearance of a person that indicates a disease or disorder, such as fever, headache or rash; strictly, a symptom is felt or experienced by the patient, while a sign can be detected by an observer.
Example: The doctor told that his coughing and sneezing was the symptom of standing for too long in the rain.
Real examples of "symptom" in context
