Hieroglyph
noun
A character from an ancient Egyptian system of writing.
The archaeologist studied the hieroglyphs on the tomb wall to understand the ancient culture.

Often appears as...
- ancient hieroglyph
- hieroglyph carving
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A picture or symbol representing a word, phrase, or idea, especially one used in early forms of writing.
The ancient Sumerian hieroglyph for 'life' was a simple drawing of a reed.

Often appears as...
- hieroglyph writing
- decipher hieroglyph
noun
Something that is hard to understand or decipher.
In mathematics class, the equations seemed like hieroglyphs to the new student.

Often appears as...
- hieroglyph puzzle
- hieroglyph difficulty
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A character from an ancient Egyptian system of writing.
The archaeologist studied the hieroglyphs on the tomb wall to understand the ancient culture.

Often appears as...
- ancient hieroglyph
- hieroglyph carving
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A picture or symbol representing a word, phrase, or idea, especially one used in early forms of writing.
The ancient Sumerian hieroglyph for 'life' was a simple drawing of a reed.

Often appears as...
- hieroglyph writing
- decipher hieroglyph
noun
Something that is hard to understand or decipher.
In mathematics class, the equations seemed like hieroglyphs to the new student.

Often appears as...
- hieroglyph puzzle
- hieroglyph difficulty
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 3

Ancient Writing
Used specifically for Egyptian writing, not for other ancient scripts.

Those hieroglyphs were used to decorate pharaohs' tombs.
Academic Context
Often discussed in history or archaeology, not in everyday conversation.

In class, we learned how hieroglyphs helped historians understand ancient Egypt.
Artifacts Connection
Hieroglyphs are found on Egyptian artifacts like papyrus, pottery, and monuments.

The museum exhibit of pottery featured ancient hieroglyphs.
Ancient Writing
Used specifically for Egyptian writing, not for other ancient scripts.

Those hieroglyphs were used to decorate pharaohs' tombs.
Academic Context
Often discussed in history or archaeology, not in everyday conversation.

In class, we learned how hieroglyphs helped historians understand ancient Egypt.
Artifacts Connection
Hieroglyphs are found on Egyptian artifacts like papyrus, pottery, and monuments.

The museum exhibit of pottery featured ancient hieroglyphs.
Ancient Writing
Used specifically for Egyptian writing, not for other ancient scripts.

Those hieroglyphs were used to decorate pharaohs' tombs.
Academic Context
Often discussed in history or archaeology, not in everyday conversation.

In class, we learned how hieroglyphs helped historians understand ancient Egypt.
Artifacts Connection
Hieroglyphs are found on Egyptian artifacts like papyrus, pottery, and monuments.

The museum exhibit of pottery featured ancient hieroglyphs.
Video examples
Why are these 32 symbols...
with its symmetrical markings on the left, possible stylized representations of hands in the middle, and what looks a bit like a bracket on the right. The oldest systems of graphic communication in the world -- Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphs, the earliest Chinese script,
Video examples
Egypt Wants Treasures...
hieroglyphs scholars were able to crack the hieroglyphic code and for the first time understand the meaning of the ancient Egyptian language it's an object that's important to all of humanity it's important for all of us to have access to to seeing an object that's that's as
Video examples
Palenque and the Ancient...
teeth they don't look like that that's actually the symbol of breath of the spirit of life that's emerging out of his mouth it's almost like a hieroglyph throne in three shown in three dimensions and of course the very famous lid I think we all have seen
Video examples
The history of the world...
domestic cats became important to Egyptian religious culture. They gained immortality in frescos, hieroglyphs, statues, and even tombs, mummified alongside their owners. Egyptian ship cats cruised the Nile, holding poisonous river snakes at bay.
Video examples
Bill Saturno: Adding...
could read Maya hieroglyphs or decipher them at all but because his life has been dedicated to simply recording these monuments before they vanished into the hands of private collections and looters around the world that by documenting
Video examples
Climb Ancient Temples in...
these extra layers actually help preserve the ruins by protecting them from the elements some pieces of history that are easy to see are carvings that are all over the site the hieroglyphs tell the story of the kingdom by
Video examples
Ancient Wonders:...
the public to view with hieroglyphs and carved reliefs depicting ancient Egyptian life if you're willing to make steep climbs and navigate tight corners you can even explore the passageways of
Video examples
Ancient Secrets PIPE...
the public to view with hieroglyphs and carved reliefs depicting ancient Egyptian life if you're willing to make steep climbs and navigate tight corners you can even explore the passageways of
Video examples
Ancient Maya 101 PIPE...
writing in Mesoamerica hieroglyphs in fact much of what we know about ancient Maya civilization comes from deciphering hieroglyphic characters inscribed in pottery stone slabs and other ruins
Video examples
Paleo-oncology: The...
archaeologist first it's been my passion since grade school when I used to pass notes to my friends written in hieroglyphs but by studying the past of cancer we can understand disease today
Video examples
Why are these 32 symbols...
with its symmetrical markings on the left, possible stylized representations of hands in the middle, and what looks a bit like a bracket on the right. The oldest systems of graphic communication in the world -- Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphs, the earliest Chinese script,
Video examples
Egypt Wants Treasures...
hieroglyphs scholars were able to crack the hieroglyphic code and for the first time understand the meaning of the ancient Egyptian language it's an object that's important to all of humanity it's important for all of us to have access to to seeing an object that's that's as
Video examples
Palenque and the Ancient...
teeth they don't look like that that's actually the symbol of breath of the spirit of life that's emerging out of his mouth it's almost like a hieroglyph throne in three shown in three dimensions and of course the very famous lid I think we all have seen
Video examples
The history of the world...
domestic cats became important to Egyptian religious culture. They gained immortality in frescos, hieroglyphs, statues, and even tombs, mummified alongside their owners. Egyptian ship cats cruised the Nile, holding poisonous river snakes at bay.
Video examples
Bill Saturno: Adding...
could read Maya hieroglyphs or decipher them at all but because his life has been dedicated to simply recording these monuments before they vanished into the hands of private collections and looters around the world that by documenting
Video examples
Climb Ancient Temples in...
these extra layers actually help preserve the ruins by protecting them from the elements some pieces of history that are easy to see are carvings that are all over the site the hieroglyphs tell the story of the kingdom by
Video examples
Ancient Wonders:...
the public to view with hieroglyphs and carved reliefs depicting ancient Egyptian life if you're willing to make steep climbs and navigate tight corners you can even explore the passageways of
Video examples
Ancient Secrets PIPE...
the public to view with hieroglyphs and carved reliefs depicting ancient Egyptian life if you're willing to make steep climbs and navigate tight corners you can even explore the passageways of
Video examples
Ancient Maya 101 PIPE...
writing in Mesoamerica hieroglyphs in fact much of what we know about ancient Maya civilization comes from deciphering hieroglyphic characters inscribed in pottery stone slabs and other ruins
Video examples
Paleo-oncology: The...
archaeologist first it's been my passion since grade school when I used to pass notes to my friends written in hieroglyphs but by studying the past of cancer we can understand disease today
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Feist
Canadian Musician
I once looked over the shoulder of a friend on Facebook and it looked like hieroglyphs to me. There's merit online, of course, but social media gets super freaky. Imagine if three generations from now, people online have forgotten what date or day of the week it is.

Quote examples
Feist
Canadian Musician
I once looked over the shoulder of a friend on Facebook and it looked like hieroglyphs to me. There's merit online, of course, but social media gets super freaky. Imagine if three generations from now, people online have forgotten what date or day of the week it is.

Example 1 of 1
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