What is symbol on a map?

Answer 1

A symbol is a picture on a map. It is usually small and if you look it up in the map key it tells you what that symbol on the map is, and a little description of one or two words saying what that symbol means or stands for.

Answer 2

Rather than write the name of a feature on a map, that may take up valuable space and obscure map detail, a symbol is used instead. A map's legend will show what symbols have been used and their meaning.