(~) A punctuation mark used in text to indicate the omission of a word, a character used in printing to conserve space by representing part or all of a previously spelled-out word.

ETYM Spanish, from Latin titulus a superscription, title, token, sign. Related to Title.
Wavy mark (˜) indicating ny sound of Spanish ń (as in cańon or canyon.).
A diacritical mark (~) placed over the letter n in Spanish to indicate a palatal nasal sound or over a vowel in Portuguese to indicate nasalization.