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symbolic

[ sim-bol-ik ]
/ sɪmˈbɒl ɪk /
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adjective
serving as a symbol of something (often followed by of).
of, relating to, or expressed by a symbol.
characterized by or involving the use of symbols: a highly symbolic poem.
(in semantics, especially formerly) pertaining to a class of words that express only relations.Compare notional (def. 7).
Computers. expressed in characters, usually nonnumeric, that require translation before they can be used (opposed to absolute).
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Sometimes sym·bol·i·cal (for defs. 1-4) .

Origin of symbolic

1650–60; <Late Latin symbolicus<Greek symbolikós.See symbol, -ic

OTHER WORDS FROM symbolic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use symbolic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for symbolic

symbolic

symbolical

/ (sɪmˈbɒlɪk) /

adjective
of or relating to a symbol or symbols
serving as a symbol
characterized by the use of symbols or symbolism

Derived forms of symbolic

symbolically, adverbsymbolicalness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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