icon
[ ahy-kon ]
/ ˈaɪ kɒn /
noun
a picture, image, or other representation.
Eastern Church.
a representation of some sacred personage, as Christ or a saint or angel, painted usually on a wood surface and venerated itself as sacred.
a sign or representation that stands for its object by virtue of a resemblance or analogy to it: an icon of womanhood.
a person or thing that is revered or idolized: Elvis Presley is a cultural icon of the 20th century.
Computers.
a picture or symbol that appears on a monitor and is used to represent a command, as a file drawer to represent filing.
Semiotics.
a sign or representation that stands for its object by virtue of a resemblance or analogy to it.
Also
i·kon,
ei·kon
(for defs 1, 2).
Origin of icon
1565–75; < Latin < Greek
eikṓn likeness, image, figure
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH icon
icon ikonWords nearby icon
Definition for icon (2 of 2)
icono-
a combining form meaning “image,” “likeness,” used in the formation of compound words: iconology.
Also
especially before a vowel,
icon-.
Origin of icono-
Example sentences from the Web for icon
British Dictionary definitions for icon (1 of 2)
icon
/ (ˈaɪkɒn) /
noun
Also: ikon
a representation of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or a saint, esp one painted in oil on a wooden panel, depicted in a traditional Byzantine style and venerated in the Eastern Church
an image, picture, representation, etc
a person or thing regarded as a symbol of a belief, nation, community, or cultural movement
a person regarded as a sex symbol or as a symbol of the latest fashion trends
a pictorial representation of a facility available on a computer system, that enables the facility to be activated by means of a screen cursor rather than by a textual instruction
Word Origin for icon
C16: from Latin, from Greek
eikōn image, from
eikenai to be like
British Dictionary definitions for icon (2 of 2)
icono-
before a vowel icon-
combining form
indicating an image or likeness
iconology
Word Origin for icono-
from Greek:
icon
Scientific definitions for icon
icon
[ ī′kŏn′ ]
In a graphical user interface, a picture on the screen that represents a specific file, directory, window, or program. Clicking on an icon will start the associated program or open the associated file, directory, or window.
Cultural definitions for icon
icon
An image used in worship in the Eastern Orthodox Church and among other Christians (see also Christian) of similar traditions. Icons depict Jesus, Mary, and the saints, usually in a severe, symbolic, nonrealistic way.