A mark that stands for something by agreement rather than resemblance. A symbol must be learned; an image need only be seen.
Greek σύμβολον (symbolon, a token, a mark for recognition, literally something thrown together), from syn (together) + ballein (to throw); the original token was two halves of one broken object, matched by someone who already knew.
A mark that stands for something by agreement rather than resemblance. It must be learned, the way the two halves of the old broken token had to be matched by someone who already knew.