sym ‧ bol ‧ ize AC BrE AmE ( also symbolise British English ) /ˈsɪmbəlaɪz/ verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ symbol , ↑ symbolism ; verb : ↑ symbolize ; adverb : ↑ symbolically ; adjective : ↑ symbolic ]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ symbol , ↑ symbolism ; verb : ↑ symbolize ; adverb : ↑ symbolically ; adjective : ↑ symbolic ]
if something symbolizes a quality, feeling etc, it represents it:
Crime often symbolizes a wider social problem.
Growing discontent has been symbolized by the protests.