A symbol is a sign, shape, or object that stands for an idea, quality, or thing. For example, a heart symbol can stand for love, and a flag can stand for a country.
From Latin 'symbolum', from Greek 'symbolon' meaning 'token, sign', originally a broken object whose halves were matched to prove identity or agreement. Over time it came to mean any sign that represents something else.
Symbols let humans compress huge ideas into tiny marks—like a peace sign or a math symbol. Once you learn the code, a simple shape can unlock entire stories, emotions, or systems of thought.
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