English Dictionary |
SYMBOLISE
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
Dictionary entry overview: What does symbolise mean?
• SYMBOLISE (verb)
The verb SYMBOLISE has 2 senses:
1. represent or identify by using a symbol; use symbols
2. express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol
Familiarity information: SYMBOLISE used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Conjugation: |
Past simple: symbolised
Past participle: symbolised
-ing form: symbolising
Sense 1
Meaning:
Represent or identify by using a symbol; use symbols
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
symbolise; symbolize
Context example:
These painters believed that artists should symbolize
Hypernyms (to "symbolise" is one way to...):
represent (describe or present, usually with respect to a particular quality)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
symbolisation (the use of symbols to convey meaning)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
represent; stand for; symbolise; symbolize; typify
Context example:
What does the Statue of Liberty symbolize?
Hypernyms (to "symbolise" is one way to...):
intend; mean (mean or intend to express or convey)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "symbolise"):
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)
symbolisation (something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible)
symboliser (someone skilled in the interpretation or representation of symbols)
Context examples
He symbolised it, was its personification: so that when they showed their teeth to him they were defending themselves against the powers of destruction that lurked in the shadows of the forest and in the dark beyond the camp-fire.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
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