idol en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈaɪ.dl̩/ (Canada, General-American)
- /ˈaɪ.dl̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- [ˈaɪ.dl̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
- īʹdl (Received-Pronunciation)
- [ˈɑɪ.ɾl̩] (Australia)
- /ˈɑɪ.dl̩/ (Australia)
- (Mid-Atlantic, US) audio
- īʹdl (Australia)
- (Southern-England) audio
- īʹdl (Canada, General-American)
- [ˈaɪ.ɾl̩] (Canada, General-American)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyd- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *wéydos Proto-Hellenic *wéidos Ancient Greek εἶδος (eîdos) Ancient Greek εἴδωλον (eídōlon)der. Latin īdōlumder. Old French idolebor. Middle English ydole English idol From Middle English ydole, from Old French idole, from Latin idolum, from Ancient Greek εἴδωλον (eídōlon, “image, idol”), from εἶδος (eîdos, “form”), from Proto-Indo-European *wéydos (“seeing, image”), from *weyd- (“to see”). Doublet of aidoru, eidolon, and idolum and related to idea.
Meanings
-
A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power.
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.
1911, J. Milton Hayes, The Green Eye of the Little Yellow God: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.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues, yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship deuils, and idoles of golde, and siluer, and brasse, and stone, and of wood, which neither can see, nor heare, nor walke: 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 9:20–21:
- A cultural icon, or especially popular person.
-
(qualifier:Asia) A popular entertainer, usually young, captivating and attractive, and often female, with an image of being close to fans.
Tom Cruise is his idol.
Sachin Tendulkar is Rohan's idol.
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. […] The "no dating" clause of the contracts has resulted in some idols being sued for breaking it, accused of damaging their reputations.
2016 January 26, Mariko Oi, “The dark side of Asia’s pop music industry”, in BBC, archived from the original on 04 Aug 2025:
- (obsolete) An eidolon or phantom; a misleading or elusive image or representation.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| idols | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| idoll | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Deriveds
idol-worthy · idolize · idolomania · matinée idol · idolatry · idolomancy · idol shepherd · idolsphere · idoloclast · kill your idols · idolise · idolism · Moorish idol · matinee idol · idolous · gravure idol · chidol · idolic · idolist · idolish
Descendants
Synonyms
pagod (honored statue of a deity) · star (a celebrated person) · pagoda (honored statue of a deity) · superstar (a celebrated person) · icon (a celebrated person)
Translations (204)
la īdōlum (representation of anything revered) · sq idhull (cultural icon, especially popular person) · pt ídolo (cultural icon, especially popular person) · alt бажырар эткен чалу (cultural icon, especially popular person) · be кумі́р (cultural icon, especially popular person) · ko 아이돌 ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · ca ídol (representation of anything revered) · et iidol (cultural icon, especially popular person) · cmn 紅人 /红人 (cultural icon, especially popular person) · bal بت (representation of anything revered) · kdr abach (representation of anything revered) · mk кумир (representation of anything revered) · gl ídolo (cultural icon, especially popular person) · mr आयडल (cultural icon, especially popular person) · fi epäjumalankuva (representation of anything revered) · bn ভাস্কর্য (representation of anything revered) · fa بُت (representation of anything revered) · ml വിഗ്രഹം (representation of anything revered) · uk божество́ (representation of anything revered) · or ମୂର୍ତ୍ତି (representation of anything revered) · bn মূর্তি (representation of anything revered) · sv avgudabild (representation of anything revered) · it idol (cultural icon, especially popular person) · mi whakapakoko (representation of anything revered) · cs idol (cultural icon, especially popular person) · de Idol (cultural icon, especially popular person) · pl bałwan (representation of anything revered) · cmn 偶像 (representation of anything revered) · xqa بُرْخَنْ (representation of anything revered) · id pujaan (representation of anything revered) · alt чалу (cultural icon, especially popular person) · ln nkísi (representation of anything revered) · es ídolo (representation of anything revered) · orv идолъ (representation of anything revered) · ang wēoh (representation of anything revered) · bg куми́р (cultural icon, especially popular person) · uk і́дол ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · alt кудай (representation of anything revered) · sv idol (representation of anything revered) · nl afgod (representation of anything revered) · uz but (representation of anything revered) · grc εἴδωλον (representation of anything revered) · ba һынташ (representation of anything revered) · bg и́дол ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · ba тораташ (representation of anything revered) · eo furorulo ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · eo idolo ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · be бо́ства (representation of anything revered) · id berhala (representation of anything revered) · ru и́дол (cultural icon, especially popular person) · el είδωλο (cultural icon, especially popular person) · th รูปเคารพ (representation of anything revered) · ru и́дол ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · ko 우상 (representation of anything revered) · he תרפים (representation of anything revered) · uk і́дол (cultural icon, especially popular person) · ja 偶像 (representation of anything revered) · yue 偶人 (representation of anything revered) · gu મૂર્તિ (representation of anything revered) · pro ydola (representation of anything revered) · es ídolo (cultural icon, especially popular person) · uk куми́р (cultural icon, especially popular person) · crh put (representation of anything revered) · ro idol (representation of anything revered) · ar وَثَن (representation of anything revered) · hy կուռք (representation of anything revered) · ko 우상 (cultural icon, especially popular person) · de Götze (cultural icon, especially popular person) · sv beläte (representation of anything revered) · swb sanamwe (representation of anything revered) · gu પૂતળું (representation of anything revered) · km គារវរូប (representation of anything revered) · gu દેવપ્રતિમા (representation of anything revered) · yi אָפּגאָט (representation of anything revered) · pt ídolo (representation of anything revered) · hi प्रतिमा (representation of anything revered) · enm mawmet (representation of anything revered) · vi thần tượng (representation of anything revered) · ms pujaan (representation of anything revered) · de Götze (representation of anything revered) · gd ìomhaigh (representation of anything revered) · ps بت (representation of anything revered) · ja アイドル ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · ar آيْدُول (cultural icon, especially popular person) · cmn 偶像 (cultural icon, especially popular person) · ru божо́к (representation of anything revered) · bg куми́р (representation of anything revered) · lt stabas (representation of anything revered) · pt ícone (cultural icon, especially popular person) · ar صَنَم (representation of anything revered) · gl ídolo (representation of anything revered) · hu bálvány (representation of anything revered) · el είδωλο (representation of anything revered) · ur بُت (representation of anything revered) · ang hearg (representation of anything revered) · fr idole (representation of anything revered) · fa آیدل (cultural icon, especially popular person) · bg и́дол (representation of anything revered) · sa देवता (representation of anything revered) · pl idolka (cultural icon, especially popular person) · uz sanam (representation of anything revered) · bn বুত (representation of anything revered) · uk і́дол (representation of anything revered) · qu lanti (representation of anything revered) · orv кумиръ (representation of anything revered) · nl idool (representation of anything revered) · el ίνδαλμα (cultural icon, especially popular person) · te విగ్రహము (representation of anything revered) · pa ਮੂਰਤੀ (representation of anything revered) · ru и́дол (representation of anything revered) · mi hautupua (cultural icon, especially popular person) · hi मूर्ति (representation of anything revered) · fr idole (cultural icon, especially popular person) · sl idol (cultural icon, especially popular person) · arz صنم (representation of anything revered) · yue 偶像 (representation of anything revered) · sh ìdōl (cultural icon, especially popular person) · lv elks (representation of anything revered) · si පිළිමය (representation of anything revered) · pl idol (representation of anything revered) · ang godġield (representation of anything revered) · te విగ్రహం (representation of anything revered) · pl idol (cultural icon, especially popular person) · ru куми́р (representation of anything revered) · da idol (representation of anything revered) · eo idolkantisto ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · mg sampy (representation of anything revered) · uk божо́к (representation of anything revered) · nb idol (representation of anything revered) · eo idolo (cultural icon, especially popular person) · th ไอดอล (cultural icon, especially popular person) · be і́дал (representation of anything revered) · ky бут (representation of anything revered) · ja アイドル (cultural icon, especially popular person) · bg и́дол (cultural icon, especially popular person) · mr आयडल ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · eo idolo (representation of anything revered) · hy կուռք (cultural icon, especially popular person) · enm ydole (representation of anything revered) · tk but (representation of anything revered) · ca ídol (cultural icon, especially popular person) · sw sanamu (representation of anything revered) · de Idol (representation of anything revered) · kk бұт (representation of anything revered) · sq idhull (representation of anything revered) · tg бут (representation of anything revered) · sk idol (cultural icon, especially popular person) · hu idol (cultural icon, especially popular person) · ckb بت (representation of anything revered) · cs idol (representation of anything revered) · cmn 神像 (representation of anything revered) · fi idoli (cultural icon, especially popular person) · ang dēofolġield (representation of anything revered) · tr put (representation of anything revered) · ka კერპი (representation of anything revered) · cmn 偶像 ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · fi jumalankuva (representation of anything revered) · cmn 萬人迷 /万人迷 (cultural icon, especially popular person) · he צלם (representation of anything revered) · pl modła (representation of anything revered) · it idolo (representation of anything revered) · ru чур (representation of anything revered) · id idola (cultural icon, especially popular person) · az sənəm (representation of anything revered) · yi צלם (representation of anything revered) · vi thần tượng (cultural icon, especially popular person) · alt кудайлык (representation of anything revered) · mk идол (representation of anything revered) · cu коумиръ (representation of anything revered) · hi बुत (representation of anything revered) · nl godenbeeld (representation of anything revered) · my ရုပ်တု (representation of anything revered) · sv idol (cultural icon, especially popular person) · mk идол (cultural icon, especially popular person) · fi idoli ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · ko 아이돌 (cultural icon, especially popular person) · ru куми́р (cultural icon, especially popular person) · be і́дал ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · ms berhala (representation of anything revered) · th ไอดอล ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · zdj sinamu (representation of anything revered) · ja 偶像 (cultural icon, especially popular person) · fi esikuva (cultural icon, especially popular person) · cs modla (representation of anything revered) · be бажо́к (representation of anything revered) · sh ѝдо̄л (cultural icon, especially popular person) · be і́дал (cultural icon, especially popular person) · ru божество́ (representation of anything revered) · pl bożek (representation of anything revered) · ba бот (representation of anything revered) · he בְּעָל (representation of anything revered) · th เทวรูป (representation of anything revered) · ro idol (cultural icon, especially popular person) · az büt (representation of anything revered) · ky аздек (cultural icon, especially popular person) · tr idol (cultural icon, especially popular person) · ru а́йдол ((Asia, originally Japan) popular performer) · ja アイドル (representation of anything revered) · ltg dīvaklys (representation of anything revered) · ru истука́н (representation of anything revered) · iso ẹdhọ (representation of anything revered) · he פסל (representation of anything revered) · mr मूर्ती (representation of anything revered) · cmn 偶人 (representation of anything revered)