idol

[ ahyd-l ]

noun

1. an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed.
2. Bible.
   1. an image of a deity other than God.
   2. the deity itself.
3. any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion:

   Madame Curie had been her childhood idol.

   Synonyms: pet, darling, bookmark

4. a mere image or semblance of something, visible but without substance, as a phantom.
5. a figment of the mind; fantasy.
6. a false conception or notion; fallacy.

idol

/ ˈaɪdəl /

noun

1. a material object, esp a carved image, that is worshipped as a god
2. Christianity Judaism any being (other than the one God) to which divine honour is paid
3. a person who is revered, admired, or highly loved

Word History and Origins

Origin of idol¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English from Late Latin īdōlum from Greek eídōlon “image, idol,” derivative of eîdos “shape, form”

Word History and Origins

Origin of idol¹

C13: from Late Latin īdōlum, from Latin: image, from Greek eidōlon, from eidos shape, form

Synonym Study

See image.

Example Sentences

Arsenal forward Alessia Russo unlocks her phone to reveal her go-to songs, poetry skills and the football idol she chats to on social media.

From BBC

Zheng is only the second Asian player to reach the final after her idol Li Na in 2013.

From BBC

The idol of Laxmi Narayan has been brought home and reinstalled at the temple it was originally taken from and is being worshipped daily, just like it was in the 10th century when the idol was first made.

From BBC

A sacred idol of the Hindu deities - Laxmi Narayan - has been brought back home to Nepal from the Dallas Museum of Art almost 40 years after it first disappeared from a temple.

From BBC

“When she found out the idol was stolen, she felt more depressed than when her husband passed away.”

From BBC

Related Words

• deity
• god
• goddess
• graven image
• icon
• image
• simulacrum