token

(tō'kən)
n.

1. Something serving as an indication, proof, or expression of something else; a sign: "Tears are queer tokens of happiness" (Eugene O'Neill). See synonyms at sign.
2. Something that signifies or evidences authority, validity, or identity: The scepter is a token of regal status.
3. A distinguishing feature or characteristic.
4. One that represents a group, as an employee whose presence is used to deflect from the employer criticism or accusations of discrimination.
5. A keepsake or souvenir.
6. A piece of stamped metal used as a substitute for currency: subway tokens.

tr.v., -kened, -ken·ing, -kens.
To betoken or symbolize; portend.

adj.

1. Done as an indication or a pledge: a token payment.
2. 1. Perfunctory; minimal: a token gesture of reconciliation; token resistance.
   2. Merely symbolic: refused to be the token woman on the committee.

idioms:

by the same token

1. In like manner; similarly.

in token of

1. As an indication of: a ring given in token of love.

[Middle English, from Old English tācen.]

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The phrase by the same token is used to connect a statement to something said previously, and means roughly 'for the same reason' or 'in the same way'. Although it is used less precisely than these definitions imply, there should always be some causal or consequential connection of this kind:

I've dined out on a few stories about her. But not ones that matter. By the same token, she could have made quite a good thing about telling how she saw you...that night—D. Halliday, 1970.

It is less appropriate when introducing a parallel or additional circumstance rather than a causally related one: Style is a heady compound of instinct, experience and context: what cuts a dash in the Masai Mara won't necessarily do the trick in Mayfair. By the same token [read: At the same time],

while style is nailing a kind of timelessness, it has to look modern—Times, 2006

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(1) See authentication token and token passing.

(2) In programming, a string of characters. For example, in the C expression #define MAXAMOUNT 50000, MAXAMOUNT is the token.

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noun

1. Something visible or evident that gives grounds for believing in the existence or presence of something else: badge, evidence, index, indication, indicator, manifestation, mark, note, sign, signification, stamp, symptom, witness. See show/hide.
2. Something that takes the place of words in communicating a thought or feeling: expression, gesture, indication, sign. See show/hide.
3. Something given to guarantee the repayment of a loan or the fulfillment of an obligation: earnest², guaranty, pawn¹, pledge, security, warrant. See transactions.
4. Something that causes one to remember: keepsake, memento, remembrance, reminder, souvenir, trophy. See remember/forget.

IN BRIEF: A metal or plastic disk that can be used (as a substitute for coins) in slot machines. Also: Something of sentimental value.

The making of friends who are real friends, is the best token we have of a man's success in life. — Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909)

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For a list of words related to token, see:

• Limitations and Conditions

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See words rhyming with "token."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Token.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - tegn, mærke
adj. - symbolsk
v. tr. - symbol (på)

idioms:

• by the same token    af samme grund
• token money    skillemønt, nødpenge
• token sum    symbolsk sum
• token vote    afgørende stemme

Nederlands (Dutch)
muntje), (tegoed)bon, teken, herinnering, symbolisch, betekenen evenzo

Français (French)
n. - jeton, point (d'un produit), bon, coupon, témoignage, signe de, (Ling) occurrence
adj. - symbolique, pour la forme
v. tr. - être le témoignage ou le signe de

idioms:

• by the same token    de la même manière
• token money    (Fin) monnaie fiduciaire
• token sum    somme symbolique
• token vote    vote de crédits (dont le montant n'est pas définitivement fixé)

Deutsch (German)
n. - Zeichen, Beweis, Erinnerung, Gutschein, Münze, Marke, (Comp.) Byte-Sequenz
v. - bedeuten, ankünden
adj. - symbolisch, Vorzeige...

idioms:

• by the same token    ebenso
• token money    Scheidemünze, Ersatzgeld
• token sum    geringer Geldbetrag
• token vote    Bewilligung eines Geldbetrags, dessen Höhe nicht bindend ist

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - δείγμα, ένδειξη, τεκμήριο, κουπόνι
v. - συμβολίζω

idioms:

• by the same token    κατά το ίδιο μέτρο, επιπλέον, εξάλλου
• token money    μεταλλικό νόμισμα, κερματικό νόμισμα
• token sum    συμβολικό ποσό
• token vote    (Βρετ.) έγκριση κονδυλίου του οποίου το ύψος δεν είναι δεσμευτικό

Italiano (Italian)
segno, souvenir, gettone

idioms:

• by this/the same token    similmente
• token money    moneta divisionaria
• token sum    somma simbolica
• token vote    voto non dettagliato

Português (Portuguese)
n. - oferta (f), sinal (m), prova (f), indício (m), penhor (m)

idioms:

• by this/the same token    em prova do que digo, da mesma maneira
• token money    dinheiro nominal (m)
• token sum    soma nominal (f)
• token vote    votação de verba (f), garantia de poderem ser aumentados sem necessidade de nova discussão

Русский (Russian)
знак, символ, подарок на память, сувенир, признак, примета, талон, жетон

idioms:

• by this/the same token    к тому же
• token money    символические деньги
• token sum    номинальная сумма
• token vote    номинальное голосование

Español (Spanish)
n. - señal, muestra, indicio, recuerdo, prenda, ficha, vale, distintivo, rasgo, presagio, moneda
adj. - de señal
v. tr. - simbolizar

idioms:

• by the same token    por la misma razón
• token money    moneda cuyo valor nominal es mayor que el valor del metal que contiene
• token sum    suma simbólica
• token vote    voto parlamentario de fondos cuya entrega no es obligatoria

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - tecken, bevis, kännetecken
v. - symbolisera, föreställa

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
标记, 标志, 纪念品, 象征, 代价券, 筹码, 作为标记的, 意思意思的, 象征性的, 充场面的, 表示

idioms:

• by the same token    出于同样原因
• token money    代用货币
• token sum    一点小钱
• token vote    议会对于支出预算草案的决议

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 標記, 標誌, 紀念品, 象徵, 代價券, 籌碼
adj. - 作為標記的, 意思意思的, 象徵性的, 充場面的
v. tr. - 表示, 象徵

idioms:

• by the same token    出於同樣原因
• token money    代用貨幣
• token sum    一點小錢
• token vote    議會對於支出預算草案的決議

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 표, 기념품, 교환권
adj. - 표시가 되는, 이름 뿐인
v. tr. - 표시하다

idioms:

• by the same token    그 증거로는, 이런 면에서 따져볼 때, 같은 이유로

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 印, 記念品, 代用硬貨, 商品券

idioms:

• token money    定位貨幣, 私鋳貨幣, 代用貨幣
• token sum    小合計
• token vote    仮支出決議

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) صفه, رمز, أمارة, علامه (فعل) يوصف‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮סימן, אסימון, מזכרת, עדות, תו-קנייה, תלוש, סמל‬
adj. - ‮סמלי‬
v. tr. - ‮סימן, סימל‬

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