symbolic

[ sim-bol-ik ]
/ sɪmˈbɒl ɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR symbolic ON THESAURUS.COM

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).
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

Words nearby symbolic

symbiotic, symblepharon, symblepharopterygium, symbol, symbol retailer, symbolic, symbolic code, symbolic interactionism, symbolic language, symbolic logic, symbolical books

Words related to symbolical

allegorical, characteristic, denotative, emblematic, emblematical, figurative, indicative, representative, significant, suggestive, symptomatic, token, typical

Example sentences from the Web for symbolical

British Dictionary definitions for symbolical

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, adverb symbolicalness, noun