Meaning of icon in English

Table of contents

Noun
icon
Etymology
mid 16th century (in the sense ‘simile’): via Latin from Greek eikōn‘likeness, image’. Current senses date from the mid 19th century onwards
Definitions
1. (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
2. a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
Examples
- « they showed us the pictures of their wedding »
- « a movie is a series of images projected so rapidly that the eye integrates them »
Derived terms
3. a conventional religious painting in oil on a small wooden panel
Examples
- « venerated in the Eastern Church »

Famous quotes

« Our flag honors those who have fought to protect it, and is a reminder of the sacrifice of our nation's founders and heroes. As the ultimate icon of America's storied history, the Stars and Stripes represents the very best of this nation. »
Joe Barton
« My mum is my beauty icon, because she represents what I think beauty is. »
Bar Refaeli
« I don't really have a style icon but I really admire the way people dress like Gaga, Rihanna and Gwen Stefani. It's good to be inspired by singers who write music and dress incredibly - rather than models and people in the fashion industry who dress immaculately anyway because it's their style. »
Ellie Goulding
« I would love to do a biopic of a famous singer, like Diana Ross or Donna Summer, or an old jazz story that we haven't seen before. I would love to do that! I would love to play Diana Ross 'cause she's an icon. I'm salivating to do that. »
Taraji P. Henson
« My beauty icon is Angelina Jolie. »
Ashley Benson