If you refer to someone such as a film, pop, or sports star as an idol, you mean that they are greatly admired or loved by their fans.
A great cheer went up from the crowd as they caught sight of their idol.
He looks more like a stockbroker than a teen idol.
Synonyms: hero, superstar, pin-up, favourite More Synonyms of idol
2. countable noun
An idol is a statue or other object that is worshipped by people who believe that it is a god.
3.
See fallen idol
More Synonyms of idol
idol in British English
(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 origin
C13: from Late Latin īdōlum, from Latin: image, from Greek eidōlon, from eidos shape, form
idol in American English
(ˈaɪdəl)
noun
1.
an image of a god, used as an object or instrument of worship
2.
in monotheistic belief, any heathen deity
3.
any object of ardent or excessive devotion or admiration
4.
a false notion or idea that causes errors in thinking or reasoning
5. Archaic
anything that has no substance but can be seen, as an image in a mirror
6. Obsolete
a.
any image or effigy
b.
an impostor
Word origin
ME idole < OFr < L idolum, an image, form, specter, apparition (in LL(Ec), idol) < Gr eidōlon, an image, phantom (in LGr(Ec), idol) < eidos, form: see -oid
Examples of 'idol' in a sentence
idol
And now that the great beauty had publicly announced her indifference to Joyce's idol she had some sliver of hope.
Clive Barker THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW (2001)
His precious face, his golden face, the beauty that had made him the idol of millions, had been irreparably damaged.
Clive Barker COLDHEART CANYON (2001)
Its head rotated as it tracked a brilliant moorish idol swimming before it, and its gills rippled as they expelled water.
Gregg Andrew Hurwitz MINUTES TO BURN (2001)
In other languages
idol
British English: idol NOUN
An idol is a famous person who is greatly admired or loved.
A great cheer went up from the crowd as they caught sight of their idol.
American English: idol
Brazilian Portuguese: ídolo
Chinese: 偶像
European Spanish: ídolo
French: idole
German: Idol
Italian: idolo
Japanese: アイドル
Korean: 우상
European Portuguese: ídolo
Latin American Spanish: ídolo
Chinese translation of 'idol'
idol
(ˈaɪdl)
n(c)
(= hero) 偶像 (ǒuxiàng) (个(個), gè)
(religious) 圣(聖)像 (shèngxiàng) (尊, zūn)
1 (noun)
Definition
an object of excessive devotion or admiration
They cheered as they caught sight of their idol.
Synonyms
hero
I still remember my boyhood heroes.
superstar
pin-up
favourite
He was a favourite of the king.
pet
They taunted her about being the teacher's pet.
darling
He was the darling of the family.
beloved (slang)
He takes his beloved in his arms.
fave (informal)
2 (noun)
Definition
an image of a god used as an object of worship
Some denounced them for worshipping idols.
Synonyms
graven image
god
Zeus, king of the gods
image
The polished stone bore the graven image of a snakebird.