This emoticon literally means "heart" since that is what it looks when viewed sideways. In IM language though, it's a less serious way of saying somebody you "love" them, or at least "care for" them. Even if you do really "love" somebody, you don't want to say it every minute and every day -- it gets old and may even scare him or her. So, use "<3" for normal every day conversations, reserving "love" during the times you really want the other to know you mean it.

(Sample IM chat)

you: ok, i'm going to sleep now.
her: nitey nite <3
you: <3 you too.

(sign off)

by Meta Bolic December 08, 2007

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<3

A heart shaped symbol typically sent from someone to their significant other via text message, email, etc.

1. Usually used when one has strong emotions for another that are hard to express, i.e love, happiness

Commonly used when one is too shy to say "I love you" for fear of it being taken the wrong way, or scaring off the person receiving the message

"Alex, I really like you, and hypothetically speaking, I miss you more. <3"

by HYpothetically speaking January 01, 2009

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<3

This is the ASCII representation of several meanings

1) a heart (symbolizing love)
2) a ballbag
3) an ice cream cone
4) less than 3

1) i <3 you (I love you)
2) my <3 > your <3 (my ballbag is bigger than yours)
3) I wish I had an <3 (caution: could be misinterpreted as meaning 2)
4) I have <3 dollars

by Itchiro December 28, 2005

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<3

Typed to make someone smile and show them that you care about them.

<3 You mean a lot to me

by thisheartmeansicare April 20, 2016

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