symbolically

Everyday

1. Symbolically means in a way that uses a symbol to stand for an idea, rather than in a real or practical way. tree →
2. In maths, symbolically means using signs and letters, like + and x, instead of words. tree →

In the lessons

In religious education, actions are done symbolically: in baptism water symbolically washes away sin, and Christians share bread and wine symbolically or as a sacrament to remember Jesus. In stories and poems, a storm may symbolically show a character's anger. In maths, a word problem can be written symbolically, like "x + 3 = 7". Phrases: "symbolically important", "act symbolically", "written symbolically".

Examples

• The dove symbolically stands for peace. tree →
• At the end of the year we symbolically handed the class key to the next year group. tree →
• (church) In baptism, water symbolically washes the person clean. tree →
• In the story, the dark forest symbolically shows the girl's fear. tree →
• We wrote the problem symbolically as 3 × n = 12. tree →
• Planting a tree was a symbolically important start for the new school. tree →

Note

Adjective: symbolic; noun: symbol; verb: symbolise (UK) / symbolize (US). Something done symbolically matters for its meaning, not its practical effect: cutting a ribbon symbolically opens a building. Spelled with -ically: symbolic + -ally.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Old translators say a passage in Sefer Yetzirah is explained in a symbolic way in the next paragraph. In the primary lessons: In religious education, actions are done symbolically: in baptism water symbolically washes away sin, and Christians share bread and wine symbolically or as a sacrament to remember Jesus. In stories and poems, a storm may symbolically show a character's anger. In maths, a word problem can be written symbolically, like "x + 3 = 7". Phrases: "symbolically important", "act symbolically", "written symbolically".

Examples

• This idea is then symbolically explained in the next paragraph. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Adjective: symbolic; noun: symbol; verb: symbolise (UK) / symbolize (US). Something done symbolically matters for its meaning, not its practical effect: cutting a ribbon symbolically opens a building. Spelled with -ically: symbolic + -ally.