1. An object believed to give magical powers to someone who carries or wears it; for example, a stone or jewel.
2. An object marked with magic signs and believed to confer on its bearer supernatural powers or protection.
3. Anything whose presence exercises a remarkable or powerful influence on human feelings or actions.
4. A stone, ring, or other object, engraved with figures, or characters, that are supposed to possess occult powers and which is worn as a charm or an amulet (object that is supposed to provide protection against bad luck or negative forces).
5. Etymology: from French talisman, in part via Arabic tilsam, plural form, tilsaman, a Greek loan-word; in part directly from Byzantine Greek telesma, "talisman, religious rite, payment"; earlier "consecration, ceremony"; originally, "completion", from telein, "to perform (religious rites), to pay (tax), to fulfill"; from telos, "completion, end, tax".