Editing Symbol (section)

{{short description|Something that represents an idea, process, or physical entity}}
{{Redirect|Symbology|other uses|Symbology (disambiguation)|and|Symbol (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Cymbal}}
[[File:Blank stop sign octagon.svg|thumb|upright|A red [[octagon]] symbolizes "stop" even without the word.|alt=Silhouette of a red octagon]]
[[File:White ribbon.svg|thumb|upright|Wearing variously colored [[List of awareness ribbons|ribbons]] is a symbolic action that shows support for certain campaigns.]]

A '''symbol''' is a mark, [[Sign (semiotics)|sign]], or [[word]] that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an [[idea]], [[physical object|object]], or [[wikt:relationship|relationship]]. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise different [[concept]]s and experiences. All [[communication]] is achieved through the use of symbols: for example, a red octagon is a common symbol for "[[Stop sign|STOP]]"; on [[map]]s, blue lines often represent rivers; and a red rose often symbolizes love and compassion. [[Numerical digit|Numerals]] are symbols for [[number]]s; [[Letter (alphabet)|letter]]s of an [[alphabet]] may be symbols for certain [[phoneme]]s; and personal [[name]]s are symbols representing individuals. The academic study of symbols is called [[semiotics]].

In the arts, [[Artistic symbol|symbolism]] is the use of a [[abstract and concrete|concrete]] element to represent a more abstract idea. In [[cartography]], an organized collection of symbols forms a [[map layout|legend]] for a map.