English Dictionary

SYMBOLISE

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

 Dictionary entry overview: What does symbolise mean? 

SYMBOLISE (verb)
  The verb SYMBOLISE has 2 senses:

1. represent or identify by using a symbol; use symbolsplay

2. express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbolplay

  Familiarity information: SYMBOLISE used as a verb is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


SYMBOLISE (verb)

 Conjugation: 
Present simple: I / you / we / they symbolise  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation ... he / she / it symbolises  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past simple: symbolised  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past participle: symbolised  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
-ing form: symbolising  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


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)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"No gain without pain." (English proverb)

"A wound will heal. Talk won’t." (Afghanistan proverb)

"Protect your brother's privacy for what he knows of you." (Arabic proverb)

"If a caged bird isn't singing for love, it's singing in a rage." (Corsican proverb)



ALSO IN ENGLISH DICTIONARY:


© 2000-2023 AudioEnglish.org | AudioEnglish® is a Registered Trademark | Terms of use and privacy policy
Contact