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icon¹
- /ˈaɪ.kɒn/ UK
- /ˈaɪ.kən/ UK
- /ˈaɪ.kɑn/ US
Rhymes with -aɪkən
Where it comes from
From Latin īcōn, from Ancient Greek εἰκών (eikṓn, “likeness, image, portrait”). Eastern Orthodox Church sense is attested from 1833. Computing sense first recorded in 1982.
noun icons · eikon · ikon
-
An image, symbol, picture, portrait, or other representation, usually as an object of religious devotion.
Similar: idol, graven image
- A type of religious painting portraying a saint or scene from Scripture, often done on wooden panels. Last week the Archdiocese sent emmissaries to investigate the icon and decided that the tears were not a hoax, Father Koufos said.
-
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.
Similar: archetype, byspel, case, beau ideal, case in point, embodiment, epitome, eponym, exemplar, exemplification, example, exemplificator
- A small picture that represents something. Click the loudspeaker icon to configure audio settings.
- An image used to represent a user; an avatar or profile picture. Is it okay if I use your drawing as my icon?
- A word, character, or sign whose form reflects and is determined by the referent; onomatopoeic words are necessarily all icons. .
ICON²
noun ICONs
- Acronym of index currency option note, a type of financial instrument.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: ikon, image, picture, idol, heathen, pagan, representation, legend, token, symbol, emblem, deesis, simulacrum, logo, monument, landmark
Translations
Every language
noun image
| Español | icono, ícono |
|---|---|
| Português | ícone |
| Français | icône |
| Deutsch | Bild |
| Italiano | icona |
| Ελληνικά | εικόνα eikóna |
| Русский | изображе́ние izobražénije, о́браз óbraz |
| Tiếng Việt | biểu tượng |
| العربية | قُونَة qūna, أَيْقُونَة ʔayqūna |
noun small picture, computer icon
| Español | icono, ícono |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 아이콘 aikon |
| 日本語 | アイコン aikon |
| 中文 | 圖標 /图标 túbiāo, 圖示 /图示 túshì |
| Português | ícone |
| Français | icône |
| Deutsch | Icon |
| Italiano | icona |
| Ελληνικά | εικονίδιο eikonídio |
| Română | iconiță |
| Русский | ико́нка ikónka, пиктогра́мма piktográmma, значо́к značók, карти́нка kartínka |
| Tiếng Việt | biểu tượng |
| العربية | أَيْقُونَة ʔayqūna |
noun religious painting
| Español | icono, ícono |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 이콘 ikon, 성상 seongsang, 성화 seonghwa |
| 日本語 | 聖像 seizō, イコン ikon |
| 中文 | 聖像 /圣像 shèngxiàng |
| Português | ícone, ídolo |
| Français | icône |
| Deutsch | Ikone |
| Italiano | icona |
| Ελληνικά | εικόνα eikóna, εικόνισμα eikónisma |
| Română | icoană |
| Русский | ико́на ikóna, о́браз óbraz |
| Tiếng Việt | linh ảnh, ảnh thánh |
| العربية | قُونَة qūna, أَيْقُونَة ʔayqūna |
| עברית | אִיקוֹנִין ikonín |
Talk about this word "icon." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/icon. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. icon. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/icon "icon." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/icon.Cite this
@misc{icon_2026,
title = {icon},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/icon},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}