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    symbolic

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    symbolic
    sym‧bol‧ic AC /sɪmˈbɒlɪk $ -ˈbɑː-/ adjective
     Word Family: noun: symbol, symbolism; verb: symbolize; adverb: symbolically; adjective: symbolic
     Word Family: noun: symbol, symbolism; verb: symbolize; adverb: symbolically; adjective: symbolic
    1. a symbolic action is important because of what it represents but may not have any real effect
        symbolic gesture/act
        The protest was a symbolic gesture of anger at official policy.
        symbolic significance/importance
        a meeting of symbolic importance
        purely/largely symbolic
        It was a largely symbolic gesture from a government trying to win support.
    2. representing a particular idea or quality:
        Each element of the ceremony has a symbolic meaning.
        symbolic of
        Today’s fighting is symbolic of the chaos which the country is facing.
    3. using or involving symbols:
        A map is a form of symbolic representation.
    —symbolically /-kli/ adverb
         
    COLLOCATIONS
    ■ nouns
       ▪ a symbolic gesture They fired arrows out to sea in a symbolic gesture of defiance.
       ▪ a symbolic act Lighting the Olympic flame is a symbolic act.
       ▪ symbolic importance/significance The capture of the city was of great symbolic importance.
    ■ adverbs
       ▪ largely symbolic The vote was largely symbolic.
       ▪ purely symbolic Our protest was meant to be purely symbolic.