sym ‧ bol ‧ is ‧ m AC /ˈsɪmbəlɪz ə m/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ symbol , ↑ symbolism ; verb : ↑ symbolize ; adverb : ↑ symbolically ; adjective : ↑ symbolic ]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ symbol , ↑ symbolism ; verb : ↑ symbolize ; adverb : ↑ symbolically ; adjective : ↑ symbolic ]
the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities:
religious symbolism