symbolic figure
1
6.4
- noun
- /sɪmˈbɑlɪk ˈfɪɡjər/
- "And a man-fool, Punch, "most complex of all the symbolic figures, "the privileged simpleton and king for a day.
Examples
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He became a symbolic figure for the German people.
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As an artist, she served as a symbolic figure representing the struggle for freedom and equality.
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Nelson Mandela is often regarded as a symbolic figure for the fight against apartheid in South Africa.
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The white dove is a symbolic figure of peace in many cultures around the world.
Synonyms
586
3.5
An object that stands for an idea or feeling
108
3.5
A picture or model that shows what something looks like
34
5.5
A person or thing that shows an idea, quality and feeling
11
3.9
A picture that represents a person, thing, or idea
9
6.5
A person who shows a quality very clearly
6
6.8
A person or thing that represents an idea, for example kindness
3
6.3
A person or thing that shows a quality very clearly
1
6.3
A visible thing like a flag that stands for an idea you cannot see
How Symbolic
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'symbolic' (representing something) modifies 'figure' (a person or thing), yielding 'a figure that represents an idea.' This follows a standard adjective + noun pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The term symbolic figure comes from the image of a figure, a person or shape, that is symbolic because it stands in for a bigger 'idea' or meaning. So a symbolic figure today means someone or something that 'represents' a larger idea.