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symbolismThe use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities; an artistic and literary movement emphasizing symbolic meaning

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities; an artistic and literary movement emphasizing symbolic meaning

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈsɪmbəˌlɪzəm/

Korean meaning: 상징주의; 아이디어나 성질을 나타내는 기호나 상징의 사용

Korean pronunciation: **심**벌리즘

Example Sentences

  • The teacher spent an hour explaining the symbolism in Gatsby's green light, but I still think it's just a lamp.
  • The movie was heavy with symbolism, from the recurring butterfly motif to the color red representing passion.
  • My art professor said my painting lacked symbolism, so I added a banana and called it 'existential fruit crisis.'

symbolism

NOUN

//ˈsɪmbəˌlɪzəm//

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities; an artistic and literary movement emphasizing symbolic meaning

symbolism concept
💡 Concept

An artist explains the symbolism in her painting to gallery visitors

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symbolism rhyme
🎵 Rhyme

Between idealism and realism, symbolism paints the truth

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈsɪmbəˌlɪzəm/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈsɪmbəˌlɪzəm/

🌳Etymology

Rootsymbol
Suffix--ism

Origin

From French 'symbolisme', derived from Late Latin 'symbolus' meaning 'sign or token', which came from Greek 'symbolon' (a sign or emblem formed by breaking an object in two).

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🎵Rhyme

idealismrealismmaterialism
idealism
realism
materialism

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📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The teacher spent an hour explaining the symbolism in Gatsby's green light, but I still think it's just a lamp.

The movie was heavy with symbolism, from the recurring butterfly motif to the color red representing passion.

😄 Fun example

My art professor said my painting lacked symbolism, so I added a banana and called it 'existential fruit crisis.'

The symbolism movement in literature emphasized emotional expression through metaphorical imagery.

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📚Related Words

Synonyms

allegorymetaphorrepresentationimageryiconography

Antonyms

literalismrealismdirectness

Related

symbolicsymbolizesymbolmetaphoricalallegorical