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 ikon

Words 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-

< Latin < Greek eikono-, combining form of eikṓn icon

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
[ īkŏn′ ]

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.