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   To·ken

   /ˈtōk(ə)n/

   

   noun

   • 1. a thing serving as a visible or tangible representation of a fact, quality, feeling, etc.: "I wanted to offer you a small token of my appreciation" Similar symbolsignemblembadgerepresentationindicationmarkindexmanifestationexpressionpledgedemonstrationrecognitionevidenceattestationproofmementosouvenirkeepsakereminderrecordtrophyrelicremembrancememorialarchaic:memorandum
   • ▪ a characteristic or distinctive sign or mark, especially a badge or favor worn to indicate allegiance to a particular person or party: archaic "Ruthven was murdered and the assassin left his token"
   • ▪ a word or object conferring authority on or serving to authenticate the speaker or holder: archaic "you should have a token that will stand you in good stead if ever you should fall foul of the prince's officers"
   • ▪ a staff or other object given to a locomotive engineer on a single-track railroad as authority to proceed over a given section of line.
   • 2. a voucher that can be exchanged for goods or services, typically one given as a gift or offered as part of a promotional offer: "redeem this token for a free dessert" Similar vouchercouponchitdocketstampordercredit noteIOUinformal:chitty
   • ▪ a metal or plastic disk used to operate a machine or in exchange for particular goods or services: "a milk token" Similar counterdisksubstitute coinjettonchippieceman
   • 3. an individual occurrence of a linguistic unit in speech or writing, as contrasted with the type or class of linguistic unit of which it is an instance.
   • ▪ the smallest meaningful unit of information in a sequence of data for a compiler.
   • 4. a sequence of bits passed continuously between nodes in a fixed order and enabling a node to transmit information.
   • 5. a member of a minority group included in an otherwise homogeneous set of people in order to give the appearance of diversity: "the next black actor or actress selected won't know if it's because of their ability and performance or if they're just a token"

   adjective

   • 1. done for the sake of appearances or as a symbolic gesture: "cases like these often bring just token fines from the courts" Similar symbolicemblematicindicativepeppercornperfunctoryslightnominalminimalinsignificantminortrivialmildhollowunimportanttriflingof no accountof no consequenceof no importancenot worth bothering aboutnot worth mentioninginconsequentialsuperficialsmalltinyminuteinappreciableimperceptibleinfinitesimalnugatorypettypaltryinadequateinsufficientmeagerderisorypitifulpatheticmiserableinformal:minusculepiddlingpifflingmeaslymingypoxynickel-and-dimerare:exiguous
   • ▪ denoting a member of a minority group included in an otherwise homogeneous set of people in order to give the appearance of diversity: "the patronizing treatment of the token Middle Eastern character"

   Word Origin Old Englishtāc(e)n, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch teken and German Zeichen, also to teach.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • T

     1

   • O

     1

   • K

     5

   • E

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   • N

     1

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