hieroglyphic
[ hahy-er-uh-glif-ik, hahy-ruh- ]
/ ˌhaɪ ər əˈglɪf ɪk, ˌhaɪ rə- /
adjective
Also hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal.
designating or pertaining to a pictographic script, particularly that of the ancient Egyptians, in which many of the symbols are conventionalized, recognizable pictures of the things represented.
inscribed with hieroglyphic symbols.
hard to decipher; hard to read.
noun
Origin of hieroglyphic
OTHER WORDS FROM hieroglyphic
hi·er·o·glyph·i·cal·ly, adverbWords nearby hieroglyphic
hieratic,
hiero-,
hierocracy,
hierodeacon,
hierodule,
hieroglyphic,
hieroglyphic hittite,
hieroglyphics,
hieroglyphist,
hieroglyphology,
hierogram
Example sentences from the Web for hieroglyph
British Dictionary definitions for hieroglyph
hieroglyphic
/ (ˌhaɪərəˈɡlɪfɪk) /
adjective Also: hieroglyphical
of or relating to a form of writing using picture symbols, esp as used in ancient Egypt
written with hieroglyphic symbols
difficult to read or decipher
noun Also: hieroglyph
a picture or symbol representing an object, concept, or sound
a symbol or picture that is difficult to read or decipher
Derived forms of hieroglyphic
hieroglyphically, adverb hieroglyphist (ˌhaɪərəˈɡlɪfɪst, ˌhaɪəˈrɒɡ-), nounWord Origin for hieroglyphic
C16: from Late Latin
hieroglyphicus, from Greek
hierogluphikos, from
hiero- +
gluphē carving, from
gluphein to carve