idol
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old French idole, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin idolum, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Ancient Greek εἴδωλον (eídōlon, “image, idol”), from εἶδος (eîdos, “form”).
Pronunciation
Noun
idol (plural idols)
- A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power.
- 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 2, in The Celebrity:
- Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines.
- 1911 The Green Eye of the Little Yellow God, J. Milton Hayes:
- There's a one-eyed yellow idol to the north of Kathmandu, There's a little marble cross below the town; There's a broken-hearted woman tends the grave of Mad Carew, And the Yellow God forever gazes down.
- A cultural icon, or especially popular person.
- (Asia, originally Japan) Popular entertainer; usually young, captivating, attractive; and often female, with an image of being close to fans.
- (Can we date this quote?) The dark side of Asia’s pop music industry - BBC News
- They are known as "idols" and their job is "to sell dreams". For decades, the young pop stars of Japan and South Korea have been the envy of teenagers.
- (Can we date this quote?) The dark side of Asia’s pop music industry - BBC News
- (obsolete) An eidolon or phantom; something misleading or elusive.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Descendants
- Japanese: アイドル
Translations
representation of anything revered
|
cultural icon, especially popular person
|
Japanese popular performer
Anagrams
Danish
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -oːl
Noun
idol n (singular definite idolet, plural indefinite idoler)
Inflection
Declension of idol
Polish
Pronunciation
Noun
idol m pers (female equivalent idolka)
- idol (cultural icon)
Declension
Declension of idol
Romanian
Etymology
From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Greek είδωλο (eídolo), partially through the intermediate of (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old Church Slavonic идолъ (idolŭ). Compare Aromanian idul, Serbo-Croatian idol.
Noun
idol m (plural idoli)
Synonyms
Related terms
Serbo-Croatian
Pronunciation
Noun
ìdōl m (Cyrillic spelling ѝдо̄л)
Declension
Categories:
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Rhymes:English/aɪdəl
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English terms with quotations
- Asian English
- Japanese English
- English terms with obsolete senses
- Rhymes:Danish/oːl
- Danish lemmas
- Danish nouns
- Danish neuter nouns
- Polish 2-syllable words
- Polish terms with IPA pronunciation
- Polish terms with audio links
- Polish lemmas
- Polish nouns
- Polish masculine nouns
- Polish personal nouns
- Romanian terms derived from Greek
- Romanian terms derived from Old Church Slavonic
- Romanian lemmas
- Romanian nouns
- Romanian countable nouns
- Romanian masculine nouns
- Serbo-Croatian terms with IPA pronunciation
- Serbo-Croatian lemmas
- Serbo-Croatian nouns
- Serbo-Croatian masculine nouns