Health / B1

SIMPT-uh-m/ˈsɪmptəm/

A symptom is a change that suggests illness: symptoms of flu; show symptoms; a symptom of stress. A sign can be seen by others; a symptom is often what the patient feels. Syndrome is a set of symptoms with a name; symptomatic is a later adjective. Do not diagnose yourself in an exam essay from one symptom — doctors look at clusters. COVID texts made the collocation very common.

Meaning

A change in your body that shows you may have an illness.

Examples

• “A high temperature is a common symptom of flu.”
• “A persistent cough can be a symptom of several different problems.”
• “Staff with symptoms were told to stay home and book a test.”

Good to know

symptoms of + illness; show / have symptoms. What others see: sign. Named cluster: syndrome. Not one-word self-diagnosis.

Near in meaning

sign

Topics

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