image

[ im-ij ]

noun

1. a physical likeness or representation of a person, animal, or thing, photographed, painted, sculptured, or otherwise made visible.
2. an optical counterpart or appearance of an object, as is produced by reflection from a mirror, refraction by a lens, or the passage of luminous rays through a small aperture and their reception on a surface.

   Synonyms: representation, figure, likeness

3. a mental representation; idea; conception.

   Synonyms: notion

4. Psychology. a mental representation of something previously perceived, in the absence of the original stimulus.
5. form; appearance; semblance:

   We are all created in God's image.

6. counterpart; copy:

   That child is the image of his mother.

   Synonyms: facsimile

   Antonyms: original

7. a symbol; emblem.
8. the general or public perception of a company, public figure, etc., especially as achieved by careful calculation aimed at creating widespread goodwill.
9. a type; embodiment:

   Red-faced and angry, he was the image of frustration.

10. a description of something in speech or writing:

    Keats created some of the most beautiful images in the language.

11. Rhetoric. a figure of speech, especially a metaphor or a simile.
12. an idol or representation of a deity:

    They knelt down before graven images.

13. Mathematics. the point or set of points in the range corresponding to a designated point in the domain of a given function.
14. Archaic. an illusion or apparition.

verb (used with object)

, im·aged, im·ag·ing.

1. to picture or represent in the mind; imagine; conceive.
2. to make an image of; portray in sculpture, painting, etc.
3. to project (photographs, film, etc.) on a surface:

   Familiar scenes were imaged on the screen.

4. to reflect the likeness of; mirror.
5. to set forth in speech or writing; describe.
6. to symbolize; typify.
7. to resemble.
8. Informal. to create an image for (a company, public figure, etc.):

   The candidate had to be imaged before being put on the campaign trail.

9. to transform (data) into an exact replica in a different form, as changing digital data to pixels for display on a screen or representing a medical scan of a body part in digital form.

image

/ ˈɪmɪdʒ /

noun

1. a representation or likeness of a person or thing, esp in sculpture
2. an optically formed reproduction of an object, such as one formed by a lens or mirror
3. a person or thing that resembles another closely; double or copy
4. a mental representation or picture; idea produced by the imagination
5. the personality presented to the public by a person, organization, etc See also corporate image

   a criminal charge is not good for a politician's image

6. the pattern of light that is focused on to the retina of the eye
7. psychol the mental experience of something that is not immediately present to the senses, often involving memory See also imagery body image hypnagogic image
8. a personification of a specified quality; epitome

   the image of good breeding

9. a mental picture or association of ideas evoked in a literary work, esp in poetry
10. a figure of speech, such as a simile or metaphor
11. maths
    1. (of a point) the value of a function, f( x ), corresponding to the point x
    2. the range of a function
12. an obsolete word for apparition

verb

1. to picture in the mind; imagine
2. to make or reflect an image of
3. computing to project or display on a screen or visual display unit
4. to portray or describe
5. to be an example or epitome of; typify

Derived Forms

• ˈimageless, adjective
• ˈimageable, adjective

Other Words From

• image·a·ble adjective
• imag·er noun
• pre·image noun
• re·image verb (used with object) reimaged reimaging
• un·imaged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of image¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; (noun) Middle English from Old French image, imagene ( -ene apparently construed as suffix) from Latin imāgin-, stem of imāgō “a copy, likeness,” equivalent to im- ( imitate ) + -āgō noun suffix; (verb) Middle English: “to form a mental picture” from Old French imagier, derivative of image

Word History and Origins

Origin of image¹

C13: from Old French imagene, from Latin imāgō copy, representation; related to Latin imitārī to imitate

Idioms and Phrases

see spitting image .

Synonym Study

Image, icon, idol refer to material representations of persons or things. An image is a representation as in a statue or effigy, and is sometimes regarded as an object of worship: to set up an image of Apollo; an image of a saint. An icon, in the Greek or Eastern Orthodox Church, is a representation of Christ, an angel, or a saint, in painting, relief, mosaic, or the like: At least two icons are found in each church. An idol is an image, statue, or the like representing a deity and worshiped as such: a wooden idol; The heathen worship idols. It may be used figuratively: to make an idol of wealth.

Example Sentences

They could also turn to the transfer portal, which has become an increasingly large part of their recruiting strategy thanks to what Cronin described as exponential growth in name, image and likeness funding.

From Los Angeles Times

Jason Parham is a senior writer at Wired and a regular contributor to Image.

From Los Angeles Times

“Oh my God!” she gasped as I handed her a vial of holy dirt with an image of the Santo Niño de Atocha.

From Los Angeles Times

The Santo Niño entered Eastside infamy in 2020, when José Huizar, who then represented District 14, posted an image of the Catholic icon on social media hours before FBI agents raided the politico’s home.

From Los Angeles Times

The book was delayed, however, after Project 2025, the foundation's vision for recreating the United States in its image, became a central talking point in the presidential campaign.

From Salon

Related Words

• appearance
• copy
• drawing
• figure
• form
• icon
• illustration
• likeness
• model
• photograph
• picture
• portrait
• statue