/ ˈɪdiəgræm; NAmE / (also ideo·graph / ˈɪdiəgrɑːf; NAmE -græf/) noun
1.
a symbol that is used in a writing system, for example Chinese, to represent the idea of a thing, rather than the sounds of a word
2.
( technical ) a sign or a symbol for sth
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 19th cent.: from Greek idea form + -gram ( see gram ).