* Symptom: This is the most common meaning, especially when referring to a physical manifestation of illness or disease.
* Characteristic: This meaning applies when describing a distinctive feature or quality of something.
* Sign: Similar to "symptom," this implies an indication of something, but can be more general than a medical symptom.
* Mark: This is a more literal translation and can refer to a physical mark or a symbolic indication.
Here are some examples:
* "Enikku kazhcha lakshanam undu" - "I have symptoms of a cold." (meaning 1: symptom)
* "Avala lakshanam oru sundari aayi" - "Her characteristic is that she is beautiful." (meaning 2: characteristic)
* "Ente aabhimanam enikkulla oru lakshanam aayi" - "My pride is a sign to me." (meaning 3: sign)
* "Aavude cheviyil lakshanam undu" - "He has a mark on his ear." (meaning 4: mark)
It's important to consider the context to determine the most accurate English translation of "lakshanam."