Library / English Dictionary

SYMBOLIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol

Example:

What does the Statue of Liberty symbolize?

Synonyms:

represent; stand for; symbolise; symbolize; typify

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "symbolize" is one way to...):

intend; mean (mean or intend to express or convey)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "symbolize"):

be; embody; personify (represent, as of a character on stage)

epitomise; epitomize; typify (embody the essential characteristics of or be a typical example of)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

symbol (something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible)

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

symbolization (something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible)

symbolizer (someone skilled in the interpretation or representation of symbols)

symbolizing (the act of representing something with a symbol)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Represent or identify by using a symbol; use symbols

Example:

These painters believed that artists should symbolize

Synonyms:

symbolise; symbolize

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "symbolize" is one way to...):

represent (describe or present, usually with respect to a particular quality)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

symbolization (the use of symbols to convey meaning)

Credits