It was a simple enough gesture, but symbolically important.
2. adjective
Something that is symbolic of a person or thing is regarded or used as a symbol of them.
Yellow clothes are worn as symbolic of spring. [+ of]
symbolicallyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Each circle symbolically represents the whole of humanity.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Symbolic is used to describe things involving or relating to symbols.
...symbolic representations of landscape.
Synonyms: figurative, representative, allegorical, illustrative More Synonyms of symbolic
symbolic in British English
(sɪmˈbɒlɪk) or symbolical
adjective
1.
of or relating to a symbol or symbols
2.
serving as a symbol
3.
characterized by the use of symbols or symbolism
Derived forms
symbolically (symˈbolically)
adverb
symbolicalness (symˈbolicalness)
noun
symbolic in American English
(sɪmˈbɑlɪk)
adjective
1.
of or expressed in a symbol or symbols
2.
that serves as a symbol (of something)
3.
characterized by symbolism
Also symˈbolical
Derived forms
symbolically (symˈbolically)
adverb
Word origin
LL symbolicus < Gr symbolikos
Examples of 'symbolic' in a sentence
symbolic
Public works were probably of more symbolic importance.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This is a largely symbolic move with little meaning in practice.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The meetings are sometimes attended only for their symbolic value.
Christianity Today (2000)
That is why he embedded the symbolic meanings of the letters in the structures of his work.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Many of the most powerful symbolic gestures have taken place on the field of play.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They only leave aside the symbolic changes which were introduced by the constitutional treaty.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It is of really powerful symbolic importance.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But this move is still symbolic for all that.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It was a time when seemingly small symbolic gestures wrought seismic change.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is a marginal seat of huge symbolic significance.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There was a crucial symbolic change when its web address switched from.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But their peoples attached enormous symbolic importance to their presence.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Scottish citizenship would be of largely symbolic value for celebrities.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is hoped that the symbolic gestures will end the feud once and for all.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is a dim collection of brick sheds groping for some symbolic significance.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Yet the symbolic effect is important.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Will the new law change anything, or will it be largely symbolic?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The Austrian hunt is a largely symbolic act.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Losing the triple-A badge would be largely symbolic.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There isn't anything symbolic about the move.
The Sun (2014)
The saga clearly had a symbolic meaning in ancient China.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He remained an important symbolic figure in the party, but the very nature of his political interests meant his constituency was limited and shrinking.
Simon Ball THE GUARDSMEN (2004)
In other languages
symbolic
British English: symbolic ADJECTIVE
If you describe an event, action, or procedure as symbolic, you mean that it represents an important change, although it has little practical effect.
A lot of officials are stressing the symbolic importance of the trip.
American English: symbolic
Brazilian Portuguese: simbólico
Chinese: 有象征意义的
European Spanish: simbólico
French: symbolique
German: symbolisch
Italian: simbolico
Japanese: 象徴的な
Korean: 상징적인
European Portuguese: simbólico
Latin American Spanish: simbólico
All related terms of 'symbolic'
symbolic logic
a modern type of formal logic using special symbols for propositions , quantifiers , and relationships among propositions and concerned with the elucidation of permissible operations upon such symbols
symbolic gesture
A gesture is something that you say or do in order to express your attitude or intentions , often something that you know will not have much effect.
symbolic language
a specialized language dependent upon the use of symbols for communication and created for the purpose of achieving greater exactitude, as in symbolic logic or mathematics
symbolic meaning
The meaning of what someone says or of something such as a book or film is the thoughts or ideas that are intended to be expressed by it.
symbolic importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation .
symbolical books
the books containing the creeds , beliefs , or doctrine of religious groups that have emerged since the Reformation