First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1image
noun im·age \ˈi-mij\
: a picture that is produced by a camera, artist, mirror, etc.
: a mental picture : the thought of how something looks or might look
: the idea that people have about someone or something
Full Definition of IMAGE
1
: a reproduction or imitation of the form of a person or thing; especially : an imitation in solid form : statue
2
a : the optical counterpart of an object produced by an optical device (as a lens or mirror) or an electronic device b : a visual representation of something: as (1) : a likeness of an object produced on a photographic material (2) : a picture produced on an electronic display (as a television or computer screen)
3
a : exact likeness : semblance <God created man in his own image — Genesis 1:27(Revised Standard Version)> b : a person strikingly like another person <she is the image of her mother>
4
a : a tangible or visible representation : incarnation <the image of filial devotion> b archaic : an illusory form : apparition
5
a (1) : a mental picture or impression of something <had a negative body image of herself> (2) : a mental conception held in common by members of a group and symbolic of a basic attitude and orientation <a disorderly courtroom can seriously tarnish a community's image of justice — Herbert Brownell> b : idea, concept
6
: a vivid or graphic representation or description
7
8
: a popular conception (as of a person, institution, or nation) projected especially through the mass media <promoting a corporate image of brotherly love and concern — R. C. Buck>
9
: a set of values given by a mathematical function (as a homomorphism) that corresponds to a particular subset of the domain
See image defined for English-language learners
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Origin of IMAGE
Middle English, from Anglo-French, short for imagene, from Latin imagin-, imago; perhaps akin to Latin imitari to imitate
Related to IMAGE
- Synonyms
- alter ego, carbon, carbon copy, clone, counterpart, doppelgänger (or doppelganger), double, duplicate, duplication, facsimile, fetch, likeness, look-alike, match, mirror image, picture, replica, ringer, spit, spitting image, twin
Rhymes with IMAGE
2image
verb
im·agedim·ag·ing
Definition of IMAGE
transitive verb
1
: to call up a mental picture of : imagine
2
: to describe or portray in language especially in a vivid manner
3
a : to create a representation of; also : to form an image of <imaged Jupiter's rings> <image the bone using X-rays> b : to represent symbolically
First Known Use of IMAGE
14th century
Rhymes with IMAGE
IMAGE Defined for Kids
image
noun im·age \ˈi-mij\
Definition of IMAGE for Kids
1
: a picture or reflection of something produced by a device (as a mirror or lens) <We watched the images on the screen.>
2
: someone who looks very much like another <She is the image of her mother.>
3
: the thought of how something looks <An image appeared in his head of his parents hugging each other and crying. — Louis Sachar, Holes>
4
: a representation (as a picture or statue) of something
5
: an idea of what someone or something is like <He has an image as a troublemaker.>
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