avatar
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Alternative spellings
- avatara, (obsolete) Avator
[edit] Etymology
From Sanskrit अवतारः (avatāraḥ) via Hindustani अवतार / اوتار (avatār), meaning "descent (of a deity from heaven in incarnate form)", from avatāriti "he descends": ava- "down" and tariti "(he) crosses".
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
avatar (plural avatars)
- In Hinduism the incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu.
- The physical embodiment of an idea or concept; a personification.
- 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, dedicatory letter to Kidnapped [contrasting the historical Alan Breac with his incarnation in the novel].
- And honest Alan, who was a grim fire-eater in his day, has in this new avatar no more desperate purpose than to steal some young gentleman's attention from his Ovid...
- 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, dedicatory letter to Kidnapped [contrasting the historical Alan Breac with his incarnation in the novel].
- (computing) A digital representation of a person or being. As used in online communities such as Second Life.
[edit] Translations
The physical embodiment of an idea or concept; a personification
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A digital representation of a person or being
often used in games, virtual realities, message boards, instant messaging, blogs, etc. It is often a caricature, cartoon or simple image as opposed to a realistic photo of the user.
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The earthly incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu
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