token - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

When you give someone a flower or a friendship bracelet or something symbolic of the way you feel about them, you're giving them a token of your affection.

A token is not only something sentimental (like a keepsake) or symbolic (like your friendship bracelet). You, yourself, can also be a token: If you're the only female in your office, for instance, and you were hired just so there'd be at least one woman, then you're the "token female." Tokens can also be a kind of special currency, like the coins you use in slot machines. Before the Metro Card, New York City subway riders paid their fares with tokens.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: token

1	n adj	a metal or plastic disk that can be redeemed or used in designated slot machines insignificantly small; a matter of form only (`tokenish' is informal)
2	n	an individual instance of a type of symbol

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: token

1

n a metal or plastic disk that can be redeemed or used in designated slot machines

Types:: subway token
a token that is used to pay for entry to the subway system

Type of:: disc, disk
a flat circular plate

n something serving as a sign of something else

Type of:: mark, sign
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

n something of sentimental value

Synonyms:: keepsake, relic, souvenir

Types:: love-token
keepsake given as a token of love; favor, favour, party favor, party favour
souvenir consisting of a small gift given to a guest at a party; cracker, cracker bonbon, snapper
a party favor consisting of a paper roll (usually containing candy or a small favor) that pops when pulled at both ends

Type of:: object, physical object
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

adj insignificantly small; a matter of form only (`tokenish' is informal)

“a token gesture of resistance”

Synonyms:: nominal, tokenish

: minimal, minimum
the least possible

2

n an individual instance of a type of symbol

“the word`error' contains three tokens of `r'”

Synonyms:: item

Types:: postage, postage stamp, stamp
a small adhesive token stuck on a letter or package to indicate that that postal fees have been paid; trading stamp
a token resembling a stamp given by a retailer to a buyer; the token is redeemable for articles on a special list

Type of:: symbol
an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance