Icon
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: /ˈaɪ.kən/
- US IPA: /ˈaɪ.kÉ‘Ën/
Alternative forms
Origin
From Latin icon, from Ancient Greek εἰκών (eikÅn, "likeness, image, portrait"). Eastern Orthodox Church sense is attested from 1833. Computing sense first recorded in 1982.
Full definition of icon
Noun
icon
(plural icons)- An image, symbol, picture, or other representation usually as an object of religious devotion.
- A religious painting, often done on wooden panels.
- A person or thing that is the best example of a certain profession or some doing.That man is an icon in the business; he personifies loyalty and good business sense.
- A small picture which represents something (such as an icon on a computer screen which when clicked performs some function.)
- (linguistics) A type of noun whereby the form reflects and is determined by the referent; onomatopoeic words are necessarily all icons. See also symbol and index.
- Pictual representations of files, programs and folders on a computer.