Adjacent Words

Symbolize definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SYM'BOLIZE, v.i. To have a resemblance of qualities or properties.
The pleasing of color symbolizeth with the pleasing of a single tone to the ear, but the pleasing of order doth symbolize with harmony.
They both symbolize in this, that they love to look upon themselves through multiplying gasses.
SYM'BOLIZE, v.t. To make to agree in properties.
1. To make representative of something.
Some symbolize the same from the mystery of its colors.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol; "What does the Statue of Liberty symbolize?" [syn: typify, symbolize, symbolise, stand for, represent]
2: represent or identify by using a symbol; use symbols; "The poet symbolizes love in this poem"; "These painters believed that artists should symbolize" [syn: symbolize, symbolise]

Merriam Webster's

verb (-ized; -izing) Date: 1603 transitive verb 1. to serve as a symbol of 2. to represent, express, or identify by a symbol intransitive verb to use symbols or symbolism • symbolizer noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. (also -ise) 1 be a symbol of. 2 represent by means of symbols. Derivatives: symbolization n. Etymology: F symboliser f. symbole SYMBOL

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Symbolize Sym"bol*ize, v. t. 1. To make to agree in properties or qualities. 2. To make representative of something; to regard or treat as symbolic. ``Some symbolize the same from the mystery of its colors.'' --Sir T. Browne. 3. To represent by a symbol or symbols.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Symbolize Sym"bol*ize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Symbolized; p. pr. & vb. n. Symbolizing.] [Cf. F. symboliser.] 1. To have a resemblance of qualities or properties; to correspond; to harmonize. The pleasing of color symbolizeth with the pleasing of any single tone to the ear; but the pleasing of order doth symbolize with harmony. --Bacon. They both symbolize in this, that they love to look upon themselves through multiplying glasses. --Howell. 2. To hold the same faith; to agree. [R.] The believers in pretended miracles have always previously symbolized with the performers of them. --G. S. Faber. 3. To use symbols; to represent ideas symbolically.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(symbolizes, symbolizing, symbolized) Note: in BRIT, also use 'symbolise' If one thing symbolizes another, it is used or regarded as a symbol of it. The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolised the end of the Cold War between East and West. ...the post-war world order symbolised by the United Nations. VERB: V n, V-ed

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. Prefigure, typify, emblematize, be symbolical of.

Moby Thesaurus

advert to, allude to, argue, be construed as, be taken as, bespeak, betoken, body forth, breathe, catch a likeness, character, characterize, chart, connote, delineate, denominate, denote, depict, designate, diagram, draw, emblematize, embody, epitomize, exemplify, express, figure, finger, hit off, illustrate, imply, import, indicate, limn, map, mean, metaphorize, mirror, name, notate, paint, personalize, personify, pick out, picture, picturize, point at, point out, point to, portray, print, refer to, register, render, represent, rub, schematize, select, signify, similize, specify, spell, stand for, stigmatize, suggest, symbol, take a rubbing, trace, trace out, trace over, typify, write