What is the meaning of ?

The hiragana syllable (ba). Its equivalent in katakana is (ba).

In Modern Japanese, attaches to the kateikei, and in Classical Japanese, attaches to the mizenkei, to express the hypothetical condition: if

In Modern Japanese, attaches to the kateikei, and in Classical Japanese, attaches to the izenkei, to express the precondition for something to happen: if; when

In the form …ば…ほど (… ba … hodo): the more …, the more

Links sentences parallel in meaning. The sentences usually incorporate a (mo):and

In the form mizenkei + (ba) + meireikei on the same verb: it doesn't matter if …; may as well

In Modern Japanese, attaches to the kateikei, and in Classical Japanese, attaches to the izenkei, to express the reason or cause: because; as

object marker

Source: wiktionary.org