im·age
(ĭm′ĭj)n.1. a. A representation of the form of a person or object, such as a painting or photograph.
b. A sculptured likeness.
2. Physics An optically formed duplicate, counterpart, or other representative reproduction of an object, especially an optical reproduction formed by a lens or mirror.
3. a. One that closely or exactly resembles another: He is the image of his uncle.
b. Likeness; semblance: Genesis says that man was made in the image of God.
4. a. The opinion or concept of something that is held by the public: the public's image of business leaders as greedy.
b. The concept or character projected to the public, as by a person or institution, especially as interpreted by the mass media: an actor who tried to convey an image of refined beauty.
5. A typical example or embodiment: That child is the image of good health.
6. A mental picture of something not real or present: Our image of the cottage did not conform with reality.
7. A vivid description or representation in words, especially a metaphor or simile: The poem uses the image of a barren tree to convey feelings of desolation.
8. Mathematics A set of values of a function corresponding to a particular subset of a domain.
9. Computers An exact replica of the contents of a storage device, such as a hard disk, stored on a second storage device, such as a network server.
10. Obsolete An apparition.
tr.v. im·aged,
im·ag·ing,
im·ag·es 1. a. To make or produce a likeness of: imaged the poet in bronze.
b. To mirror or reflect: a statue imaged in the water.
c. To make a visual representation of (an object) using remote scanning or technology such as magnetic resonance imaging: imaged the diseased kidneys; imaged the surface of Mars.
2. To symbolize or typify: a kneeling woman imaging the nation's grief.
3. To picture mentally; imagine or visualize: imaged each dive before doing it.
4. To describe, especially so vividly as to evoke a mental picture: The passage images what it's like to grow up poor.
5. Computers a. To print (a file) using a laser printer, imagesetter, direct-to-plate press, or similar device.
b. To transmit (an exact replica of the contents of a storage device) to another storage device: imaged the hard drive to the server.
im′age·less adj.
im′ag·er n.
i·mag′i·nal (ĭ-măj′ə-nəl) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Images
1. a two-leafed waxed tablet for writing with a stylus.
2. a pair of paintings or other images on two hinged leaves.
a three-dimensional representation in photographic form, recorded on film by a reflected laser beam of a subject illuminated by part of the same laser beam. — holograph, holography, n.
Obsolete, imagery.
1. the practice of destroying images, especially those created for religious veneration.
2. the practice of opposing cherished beliefs or traditional institutions as being founded on error or superstition.
3. the doctrines underlying these practices. — iconoclast, n. — iconoclastic, adj.
a person who worships images.
the worship or adoration of images. Also called idolatry. — iconolater, n.
1. the study of images.
2. iconography. — iconologist, n. — iconological, adj.
opposition to icons or other forms of sacred imagery.
a mania for icons.
the mental image or representation of a real person or thing. See also
ghosts;
perception.
a type of magic-lantern show in which rapidly moving images blend, change size, etc.; hence, any series of images that move and change rapidly, as a dream. — phantasmagorial, phantasmagoric, adj.
battle with shadows or imaginary enemies.
1. an image orlikeness.
2. a mere image or one that does not represent the reality of the original.
the state or quality of appearing to be greater or more than is to be found on a close examination, as an argument that has the appearance of merit but does not stand up to a close look. — specious, adj.
symbology, defs. 1 and 2.
1. the study and interpretation of symbols. Also called symbolism.
2. representation by means of symbols. Also called symbolism.
3. any system of symbols. — symbologist, n. — symbological, adj.
an apparatus combining a telescope and the camera lucida, used for producing images of distant objects on a screen.
a set of three paintings or images, each on a separate leaf, but hinged together.
Bible. the worship of idols instead of God; idolatry.
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.