token
Noun · AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Noun (4)tokens
- an individual instance of a type of symbol“the word ‘error’ contains three tokens of ‘r’”Synonyms: itemType of symbolKinds postage, trading stamp
- something serving as a sign of something elseType of sign, mark
- a metal or plastic disk that can be redeemed or used in designated slot machinesType of disk, discKinds subway token
- something of sentimental valueSynonyms: keepsakesouvenirrelicType of object, physical objectKinds party favor, love-token
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Noun something serving as an expression of something else
Noun keepsake or souvenir
- Italian
- ricordo
- Chinese
- 信物 xìnwù
- Swedish
- minnesgåva
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OE. token, taken, AS. tācen; akin to OFries. tēken, OS. tēkan, D. teeken, G. zeichen, OHG. Zeihhan, Icel. tākan, teiken, Sw. tecken, Dan. tegn, Goth. taikns sign, token, gateihan to tell, show, AS. teón to accuse, G. zeihen, OHG. zīhan, G. zeigen to show, OHG. zeigōn, Icel. tjā, L. dicere to say, Gr. δεικνύναι to show, Skr. diç. Cf. Diction, Teach.
1. Something intended or supposed to represent or indicate another thing or an event; a sign; a symbol; as, the rainbow is a token of God's covenant established with Noah.
2. A memorial of friendship; something by which the friendship of another person is to be kept in mind; a memento; a souvenir.
This is some token from a never friend.— William Shakespeare
3. Something given or shown as a symbol or guarantee of authority or right; a sign of authenticity, of power, good faith, etc.
Say, by this token, I desire his company.— William Shakespeare
4. A piece of metal intended for currency, and issued by a private party, usually bearing the name of the issuer, and redeemable in lawful money. Also, a coin issued by government, esp. when its use as lawful money is limited and its intrinsic value is much below its nominal value.
☞ It is now made unlawful for private persons to issue tokens.
5. Medicine A livid spot upon the body, indicating, or supposed to indicate, the approach of death. obsolete
Like the fearful tokens of the plague, Are mere forerunners of their ends.— Francis, & Fletcher, John. Beaumont
6. Printing Ten and a half quires, or, commonly, 250 sheets, of paper printed on both sides; also, in some cases, the same number of sheets printed on one side, or half the number printed on both sides.
7. Ch. of Scot. A piece of metal given beforehand to each person in the congregation who is permitted to partake of the Lord's Supper.
8. Mining A bit of leather having a peculiar mark designating a particular miner. Each hewer sends one of these with each corf or tub he has hewn.
9. Weaving In a Jacquard loom, a colored signal to show the weaver which shuttle to use.
Token money, money which is lawfully current for more than its real value. See Token, noun, 4. — Token sheet Printing, the last sheet of each token. William Savage
Origin: AS. tācnian, fr. tācen token. See Token, noun
To betoken. obsolete William Shakespeare
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: 1913 supplement
Free On-line Dictionary of Computing
1.<grammar> A basic, grammatically indivisible unit of a language such as a keyword, operator or identifier. Compare: lexeme.
2.<convention> (Or "pumpkin") An abstract concept passed between cooperating agents to ensure synchronised access to a shared resource. Such a token is never duplicated or destroyed (unless the resource is) and whoever has the token has exclusive access to the resource it controls. See for example token ring.
If several programmers are working on a program, one programmer will "have the token" at any time, meaning that only he can change the program whereas others can only read it. If someone else wants to modify it he must first obtain the token.
(1999-02-23)