representing something else

The skull at the bottom of the picture is symbolic of death. 图片底部的骷髅象征死亡。

used to refer to an action that expresses or seems to express an intention or feeling, but has little practical influence on a situation

Five hundred troops were sent in, more as a symbolic gesture than as a real threat. 派来500人的部队，只是一个象征性的举动，并不构成实质性的威胁。