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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

  1. An image, symbol, picture, portrait, or other representation, usually as an object of religious devotion.

    Similar: idol, graven image

  2. especially 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.
  3. broadly 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

  4. A small picture that represents something. Click the loudspeaker icon to configure audio settings.
  5. Internet, informal An image used to represent a user; an avatar or profile picture. Is it okay if I use your drawing as my icon?
  6. A word, character, or sign whose form reflects and is determined by the referent; onomatopoeic words are necessarily all icons. .

ICON²

noun ICONs

  1. abbreviation, acronym 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

Españolicono, ícono
Portuguêsícone
Françaisicône
DeutschBild
Italianoicona
Ελληνικάεικόνα eikóna
Русскийизображе́ние izobražénije, о́браз óbraz
Tiếng Việtbiểu tượng
العربيةقُونَة qūna, أَيْقُونَة ʔayqūna

noun small picture, computer icon

Españolicono, ícono
한국어아이콘 aikon
日本語アイコン aikon
中文圖標 /图标 túbiāo, 圖示 /图示 túshì
Portuguêsícone
Françaisicône
DeutschIcon
Italianoicona
Ελληνικάεικονίδιο eikonídio
Românăiconiță
Русскийико́нка ikónka, пиктогра́мма piktográmma, значо́к značók, карти́нка kartínka
Tiếng Việtbiểu tượng
العربيةأَيْقُونَة ʔayqūna

noun religious painting

Españolicono, ícono
한국어이콘 ikon, 성상 seongsang, 성화 seonghwa
日本語聖像 seizō, イコン ikon
中文聖像 /圣像 shèngxiàng
Portuguêsícone, ídolo
Françaisicône
DeutschIkone
Italianoicona
Ελληνικάεικόνα eikóna, εικόνισμα eikónisma
Românăicoană
Русскийико́на ikóna, о́браз óbraz
Tiếng Việtlinh ảnh, ảnh thánh
العربيةقُونَة qūna, أَيْقُونَة ʔayqūna
עבריתאִיקוֹנִין ikonín

noun exemplar

Españolicono, ícono
한국어우상 usang
日本語偶像 gūzō
中文偶像 ǒuxiàng
Portuguêsícone
Françaisicône
DeutschSymbol
Italianoicona
Ελληνικάπρότυπο prótypo, είδωλο eídolo
Русскийико́на ikóna, и́дол ídol, куми́р kumír
Tiếng Việtđiển hình
العربيةأَيْقُونَة ʔayqūna

Talk about this word

Cite this
MLA

"icon." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/icon. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

icon. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/icon

Chicago

"icon." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/icon.

BibTeX
@misc{icon_2026,
  title = {icon},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/icon},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}