---
title: symbolic — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «symbolic» in the school dictionary: Symbolic means standing for an idea or thing as a sign or symbol: a dove is symbolic of peace. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# symbolic

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Symbolic, dove, Red roses, cross, Jesus, Planting · **What happens:** mean, stand, be, describe, do, show · **To what, where:** action, feelings, letters, tree, symbolic act, story

<!-- .vabout -->
«symbolic» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [symbolic in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/symbolic.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Symbolic means standing for an idea or thing as a sign or symbol: a dove is symbolic of peace.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:symbolic:m1:1
# text = Symbolic means standing for an idea or thing as a sign or symbol: a dove is symbolic of peace.
1	Symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	standing	stand	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	symbol	symbol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	18	punct	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	dove	dove	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	nsubj	_	_
17	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	18	cop	_	_
18	symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	_
19	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
20	peace	peace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Symbolic |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stand** *not said to happen* | gerund | Symbolic *not said here* |  |  |  |  | for a idea or thing; as a sign or symbol | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Experiencer for idea=Attribute |
| 3 | **is** | present | a dove |  |  |  |  | of peace; symbolic *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Symbolic also describes an action done to show feelings or ideas rather than for practical use: a symbolic gesture.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:symbolic:m2:1
# text = Symbolic also describes an action done to show feelings or ideas rather than for practical use: a symbolic gesture.
1	Symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	action	action	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
9	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
12	rather	rather	ADV	RB	ExtPos=CCONJ	16	cc	_	_
13	than	than	ADP	IN	_	12	fixed	_	_
14	for	for	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	practical	practical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	gesture	gesture	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | present |  | a action |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent action=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | participle |  | a action *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **show** | to-infinitive |  | feelings or ideas |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent feeling=Recipient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: maths — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Symbolic means using letters and signs instead of words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:symbolic:m3:1
# text = Symbolic means using letters and signs instead of words.
1	Symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	signs	sign	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	_
7	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Symbolic |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **use** *not said to happen* | gerund | Symbolic *not said here* | letters and signs |  |  |  | instead words | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent letter=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dove is symbolic of peace.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:symbolic:x1:1
# text = The dove is symbolic of peace.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dove	dove	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	peace	peace	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the dove |  |  |  |  | of peace; symbolic *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Red roses are symbolic of love.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:symbolic:x2:1
# text = Red roses are symbolic of love.
1	Red	red	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	roses	rose	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Red roses |  |  |  |  | of love; symbolic *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
For Christians, the cross is symbolic of Jesus's death and love.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:symbolic:x3:1
# text = For Christians, the cross is symbolic of Jesus's death and love.
1	For	for	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	Christians	Christian	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	cross	cross	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	Jesus	Jesus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	's	PART	POS	_	9	case	_	_
11	death	death	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the cross |  |  |  |  | for Christians; of Jesus's death and love; symbolic *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **die** |  | Jesus |  |  |  |  |  | nom death «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Planting a tree was a symbolic act for the school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:symbolic:x4:1
# text = Planting a tree was a symbolic act for the school.
1	Planting	plant	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	act	act	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **plant** | gerund |  | a tree |  |  |  |  | vn establish-55.5-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tree=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Planting | a symbolic act |  |  |  | for the school | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the story, the dark forest is symbolic of fear.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:symbolic:x5:1
# text = In the story, the dark forest is symbolic of fear.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	story	story	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	fear	fear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | the dark forest |  |  | the story |  | of fear; symbolic *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In maths we use symbolic notation, like x + 3 = 7.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:symbolic:x6:1
# text = In maths we use symbolic notation, like x + 3 = 7.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	maths	math	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	notation	notation	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	x	x	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
10	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	11	cc	_	_
11	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	conj	_	_
12	=	=	SYM	SYM	_	13	case	_	_
13	7	7	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | we | symbolic notation |  | maths |  | like x | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent notation=Patient |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The handshake was a symbolic end to the quarrel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:symbolic:x7:1
# text = The handshake was a symbolic end to the quarrel.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	handshake	handshake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	quarrel	quarrel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the handshake | a symbolic end |  |  |  | to the quarrel | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lieutenant, love, and lack of money--that is a symbolic triangle, or much the same as the half of the shattered die of Fortune.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:symbolic:x8:1
# text = Lieutenant, love, and lack of money--that is a symbolic triangle, or much the same as the half of the shattered die of Fortune.
1	Lieutenant	Lieutenant	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
3	love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	lack	lack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	14	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	symbolic	symbolic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	triangle	triangle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
17	much	much	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
18	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	_
20	as	as	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
22	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	19	obl	_	_
23	of	of	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	26	det	_	_
25	shattered	shattered	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	26	amod	_	_
26	die	die	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	nmod	_	_
27	of	of	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
28	Fortune	fortune	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | that | a symbolic triangle |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | that *not said here* |  |  |  |  | as the half of the shattered die of Fortune | tree rules |
| 3 | **lack** |  |  | money |  |  |  |  | nom lack «state transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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