1a mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process, e.g. the letter or letters standing for a chemical element or a character in musical notation:the symbol r in Figure 5 represents a gene which is ineffectivethe chemical symbol for helium is He
a shape or sign used to represent something such as an organization, e.g. a red cross or a Star of David:the Red Cross symbolthe Star of David, the Jewish symbol
2a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract:the limousine was another symbol of his wealth and authority
