hi·er·o·glyph·ic
(hī′ər-ə-glĭf′ĭk, hī′rə-) also hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal (-ĭ-kəl)adj.
1.
a. Of, relating to, or being a system of writing, such as that of ancient Egypt, in which pictorial symbols are used to represent meaning or sounds or a combination of meaning and sound.
b. Written with such symbols.
2. Difficult to read or decipher.
n.
1.
a. A hieroglyph.
b. often hieroglyphics(used with a sing. or pl. verb) Hieroglyphic writing, especially that of the ancient Egyptians.
2. Something, such as illegible or undecipherable writing, that is felt to resemble a hieroglyph.
[French hiéroglyphique, from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hierogluphikos : hieros, holy; see eis- in Indo-European roots + gluphē, carving (from gluphein, to carve; see gleubh- in Indo-European roots).]
hi′er·o·glyph′i·cal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
hieroglyphic
(ˌhaɪərəˈɡlɪfɪk)adj
1. (Letters of the Alphabet (Foreign)) of or relating to a form of writing using picture symbols, esp as used in ancient Egypt
2. (Letters of the Alphabet (Foreign)) written with hieroglyphic symbols
3. difficult to read or decipher
n
4. (Letters of the Alphabet (Foreign)) a picture or symbol representing an object, concept, or sound
5. a symbol or picture that is difficult to read or decipher
[C16: from Late Latin hieroglyphicus, from Greek hierogluphikos, from hiero- + gluphē carving, from gluphein to carve]
ˌhieroˈglyphically adv
hieroglyphist n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
hi•er•o•glyph•ic
(ˌhaɪ ər əˈglɪf ɪk, ˌhaɪ rə-)adj. Also, hi`er•o•glyph′i•cal.
1. of or designating a pictographic script, as that of the ancient Egyptians, in which many of the symbols are conventionalized pictures of the things represented.
2. inscribed with hieroglyphic symbols.
3. hard to decipher; hard to read.
n. 4. Also, hi′er•o•glyph`. a hieroglyphic symbol.
5. Usu., hieroglyphics. hieroglyphic writing.
6. a figure or symbol with a hidden meaning.
7. hieroglyphics, characters or symbols that are difficult to decipher.
[1575–85; < Late Latin hieroglyphicus < Greek hieroglyphikós pertaining to sacred writing. See hiero-, glyph, -ic]
hi`er•o•glyph′i•cal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  hieroglyphic - writing that resembles hieroglyphics (usually by being illegible)writing - letters or symbols that are written or imprinted on a surface to represent the sounds or words of a language; "he turned the paper over so the writing wouldn't show"; "the doctor's writing was illegible" |
| 2. | hieroglyphic - a writing system using picture symbols; used in ancient Egypt orthography, writing system - a method of representing the sounds of a language by written or printed symbols hieratic, hieratic script - a cursive form of Egyptian hieroglyphics; used especially by the priests | |
| Adj. | 1. | hieroglyphic - resembling hieroglyphic writing |
| 2. | hieroglyphic - written in or belonging to a writing system using pictorial symbols |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
hieroglyphic
adjective
1. indecipherable, obscure, figurative, runic, symbolical, enigmatical carved funerary vases containing hieroglyphic texts
plural noun
1. hieroglyphs, signs, symbols, code, ciphers, cryptograms, cryptographs He could read the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
hieroglyphic
adjectiveOf or relating to representation by drawings or pictures:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
hieroglyphic
[ˌhaɪərəˈglɪfɪk] adj → geroglifico/aCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995