idol
/ˈaɪ.dl̩/ noun
Forms idols idoll
- noun A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power.
- noun A cultural icon, or especially popular person.
- noun (Asia, originally Japan) A popular entertainer, usually young, captivating and attractive, and often female, with an image of being close to fans. “Tom Cruise is his idol.”
- noun (obsolete) An eidolon or phantom; a misleading or elusive image or representation.
Synonyms
icon star superstar pagod pagoda graven image god matinee idol paragon perfection beau ideal
Etymology
From Middle English ydole, from Old French idole, from Latin idolum, from Ancient Greek εἴδωλον (eídōlon, “image, idol”), from εἶδος (eîdos, “form”), from Proto-Indo-European *wéydos (“seeing, image”), from *weyd- (“to see”). Doublet of aidoru, eidolon, and idolum and related to idea.
Webster’s 1913
- noun An image or representation of anything. [Obs.]
- noun An image of a divinity; a representation or symbol of a deity or any other being or thing, made or used as an object of worship; a similitude of a false god. That they should not worship devils, and idols of gold. Rev. ix. 20.
Etymology [OE. idole, F. idole, L. idolum, fr. Gr. Wit, and cf. Eidolon.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “idol”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details