image

—imageable, adj. —imager, n.

/im"ij/, n., v., imaged, imaging.

n.

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.

3. a mental representation; idea; conception.

4. Psychol. 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.

7. a symbol; emblem.

8. the general or public perception of a company, public figure, etc., esp. 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. Rhet. a figure of speech, esp. a metaphor or a simile.

12. an idol or representation of a deity: They knelt down before graven images.

13. Math. 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.

v.t.

15. to picture or represent in the mind; imagine; conceive.

16. to make an image of; portray in sculpture, painting, etc.

17. to project (photographs, film, etc.) on a surface: Familiar scenes were imaged on the screen.

18. to reflect the likeness of; mirror.

19. to set forth in speech or writing; describe.

20. to symbolize; typify.

21. to resemble.

22. Informal. to create an image for (a company, public figure, etc.): The candidate had to be imaged before being put on the campaign trail.

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

[1175-1225; (n.) ME < OF image, imagene (-ene appar. construed as suffix) < L imagin-, s. of imago a copy, likeness, equiv. to im- (cf. IMITATE) + -ago n. suffix; (v.) ME: to form a mental picture < OF imagier, deriv. of image]

Syn. 1, 12. 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. 2. likeness, figure, representation. 3. notion. 6. facsimile.

Ant. 6. original.

* * *