1. (n.) A visible sign or representation of an idea; anything which suggests an idea or quality, or another thing, as by resemblance or by convention; an emblem; a representation; a type; a figure; as, the lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb is the symbol of meekness or patience.

2. (n.) Any character used to represent a quantity, an operation, a relation, or an abbreviation.

3. (n.) An abstract or compendium of faith or doctrine; a creed, or a summary of the articles of religion.

4. (n.) That which is thrown into a common fund; hence, an appointed or accustomed duty.

5. (n.) Share; allotment.

6. (n.) An abbreviation standing for the name of an element and consisting of the initial letter of the Latin or New Latin name, or sometimes of the initial letter with a following one; as, C for carbon, Na for sodium (Natrium), Fe for iron (Ferrum), Sn for tin (Stannum), Sb for antimony (Stibium), etc. See the list of names and symbols under Element.

7. (v. t.) To symbolize.

abbreviation accent accent mark acronym agent allegory alphabet alphabetic character alternate alternative analogy armory arms art attribute backup badge badge of office badges banner bar baton bearing binary digit bit blazonry blueprint brand brassard button cancel cap and gown case case in point chain chain of office change changeling character charactering characterization charactery chart choreography cipher class ring coat of arms cockade code collar colophon comparison conventional representation conventional symbol copy counterfeit crest cross cryptogram custos dance notation decoration delineation demonstration depiction depictment deputy design device diagram digit direct dot double drama drawing dress dummy eagle emblem emblems ensigns equal equivalent ersatz escutcheon example exchange exemplar exemplification explanation exponent expression mark fake fasces father symbol fermata fertility symbol figuration figure figurehead fill-in flag fleur-de-lis ghost ghostwriter glosseme graph grapheme hammer and sickle heraldry hieroglyphic hold icon iconography iconology ideogram illustration image imagery imaging imitation indication initialism insignia instance key signature lapel pin lead letter lexeme lexical form lexigraphic character ligature limning livery locum tenens logo logogram logograph logotype love knot mace makeshift mantle map mark markings measure medal metaphor metonymy metronomic mark monogram morpheme mortarboard mother symbol motif musical notation next best thing notation note number numeral numero object lesson old school tie password pattern pause pennant personnel phallic symbol phonetic character phonetic symbol phony phrase pictogram pictographic character picturization pin pinch hitter plan portraiture portrayal prefigurement presa presentment printing projection proxy realization regalia relevant instance relief rendering rendition replacement representation representative reserves ring ringer rose schema school ring score script second string secondary segno semasiological unit sememe shamrock shibboleth sigillography sign signature signifiant significant skull and crossbones slur spares sphragistics staff stamp stand-in standard sub substituent substitute substitution succedaneum superseder supplanter surrogate swastika swell syllabary syllabic symbolic system symbolism symbolization symbology synecdoche tablature tartan tempo mark term third string thistle tie time signature token