icon

/ˌaɪˈkɑn/

/ˈaɪkɒn/

Other forms: icons

An icon is a symbol. It can be literal — like the little trashcan on your computer screen — or metaphorical — as in a singer so well known by ten-year-olds, he's called a pre-teen pop icon.

Icon comes to us from the Greek word eikenai, meaning "to seem or to be like." In certain religions, statues of religious figures are referred to as icons — because they are prayed to as if they were the thing they represent. Icon can also describe a person closely linked to an idea. Mahatma Gandhi is revered as an icon of peace and humanity, while Adolf Hitler is reviled as an icon of violence and hatred.

Definitions of icon

1. noun

   a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
   synonyms: ikon, image, picture

   types:

   bitmap, electronic image

   an image represented as a two dimensional array of brightness values for pixels

   chiaroscuro

   a monochrome picture made by using several different shades of the same color

   collage, montage

   a paste-up made by sticking together pieces of paper or photographs to form an artistic image

   foil, transparency

   picture consisting of a positive photograph or drawing on a transparent base; viewed with a projector

   computer graphic, graphic

   an image that is generated by a computer

   iconography

   the images and symbolic representations that are traditionally associated with a person or a subject

   inset

   a small picture inserted within the bounds or a larger one

   likeness, semblance

   picture consisting of a graphic image of a person or thing

   cyclorama, diorama, panorama

   a picture (or series of pictures) representing a continuous scene

   reflection, reflexion

   the image of something as reflected by a mirror (or other reflective material)

   CAT scan, scan

   an image produced by scanning

   echogram, sonogram

   an image of a structure that is produced by ultrasonography (reflections of high-frequency sound waves); used to observe fetal growth or to study bodily organs

   grisaille

   chiaroscuro painting or stained glass etc., in shades of grey imitating the effect of relief

   Identikit, Identikit picture

   a likeness of a person's face constructed from descriptions given to police; uses a set of transparencies of various facial features that can be combined to build up a picture of the person sought

   photomontage

   a montage that uses photographic images

   portrait, portrayal

   any likeness of a person, in any medium

   lantern slide, slide

   a transparency mounted in a frame; viewed with a slide projector

   overhead, viewgraph

   a transparency for use with an overhead projector

   type of:

   representation

   a creation that is a visual or tangible rendering of someone or something
2. noun

   special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc.
   synonyms: emblem

   types:

   colophon

   a publisher's emblem printed in a book (usually on the title page)

   colors, colours

   a distinguishing emblem

   crest

   (heraldry) in medieval times, an emblem used to decorate a helmet

   Cross

   a representation of the structure on which Jesus was crucified; used as an emblem of Christianity or in heraldry

   device

   an emblematic design (especially in heraldry)

   flag

   emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design

   heraldry

   emblem indicating the right of a person to bear arms

   skull and crossbones

   emblem warning of danger or death

   totem

   emblem consisting of an object such as an animal or plant; serves as the symbol of a family or clan (especially among American Indians)

   totem pole

   a tribal emblem consisting of a pillar carved and painted with totemic figures; erected by Indian tribes of the northwest Pacific coast

   American flag, Old Glory, Star-Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripes

   the national flag of the United States of America

   banner, streamer

   long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising

   battle flag

   a flag that leads troops into battle

   Jolly Roger, black flag, blackjack, pirate flag

   a flag usually bearing a white skull and crossbones on a black background; indicates a pirate ship

   Calvary cross, cross of Calvary

   a Latin cross set on three steps

   Celtic cross

   a Latin cross with a ring surrounding the intersection

   armorial bearing, bearing, charge, heraldic bearing

   heraldry consisting of a design or image depicted on a shield

   arms, blazon, blazonry, coat of arms

   the official symbols of a family, state, etc.

   colors, colours

   a flag that shows its nationality

   crucifix, rood, rood-tree

   representation of the cross on which Jesus died

   fanion

   a small flag used by surveyors or soldiers to mark a position

   Greek cross

   a cross with each of the four arms the same length

   jack

   small flag indicating a ship's nationality

   Jerusalem cross

   a cross with equal arms, each terminating in a small crossbar

   Latin cross

   a cross with the lowest arm being longer than the others

   Lorraine cross, cross of Lorraine

   a cross with two crossbars, one above and one below the midpoint of the vertical, the lower longer than the upper

   Maltese cross

   a cross with triangular or arrow-shaped arms and the points toward the center

   papal cross

   a cross with three crossbars

   patriarchal cross

   a cross with two crossbars

   pennant, pennon, streamer, waft

   a long flag; often tapering

   banner, standard

   any distinctive flag

   St. Andrew's cross, saltire

   a cross resembling the letter x, with diagonal bars of equal length

   Confederate flag, Stars and Bars

   the first flag of the Confederate States of America

   St. Anthony's cross, tau cross

   cross resembling the Greek letter tau

   tricolor, tricolour

   a flag having three colored stripes (especially the French flag)

   union

   a device on a national flag emblematic of the union of two or more sovereignties (typically in the upper inner corner)

   Union Jack, Union flag

   the national flag of the United Kingdom

   flag of truce, white flag

   flag consisting of a piece of white cloth that is hoisted to signal surrender or to ask for a truce

   yellow jack

   yellow flag hoist on a ship in quarantine

   ensign, national flag

   an emblem flown as a symbol of nationality

   type of:

   design, figure, pattern

   a decorative or artistic work
3. noun

   a conventional religious painting in oil on a small wooden panel; venerated in the Eastern Church
   synonyms: ikon

   type of:

   painting, picture

   graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface
4. noun

   (computer science) a graphic symbol (usually a simple picture) that denotes a program or a command or a data file or a concept in a graphical user interface
   type of:

   symbol

   an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance
5. noun

   someone who is adored blindly and excessively
   synonyms: idol, matinee idol

   types:

   heartthrob

   an object of infatuation

   type of:

   lead, principal, star

   an actor who plays a principal role