emoticon

[ ih-moh-ti-kon ]
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nounDigital Technology.
  1. a digital icon or a sequence of keyboard symbols that serves to represent a facial expression, as :‐) for a smiling face. Emoticons are used in a digital message or text to convey the writer’s emotions or clarify intent.

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Origin of emoticon

1
First recorded in 1985–90; emot(ion) + icon

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British Dictionary definitions for emoticon

emoticon

/ (ɪˈməʊtɪˌkɒn) /


noun
  1. any of several combinations of symbols used in electronic mail and text messaging to indicate the state of mind of the writer, such as :-) to express happiness

Origin of emoticon

1
C20: from emot (ion) + icon

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012