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 

• SYMBOLISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they symbolise    ... he / she / it symbolises   
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)