avatar

av·a·tar

noun \ˈa-və-ˌtär\

Definition of AVATAR

1

: the incarnation of a Hindu deity (as Vishnu)

2

a : an incarnation in human form

b : an embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person

3

: a variant phase or version of a continuing basic entity

4

: an electronic image that represents and is manipulated by a computer user (as in a computer game)

Examples of AVATAR

1. She has come to be regarded as an avatar of charity and concern for the poor.
2. She chose a penguin as her personal avatar in the chat room.

Origin of AVATAR

Sanskrit avatāraḥ descent, from avatarati he descends, from ava- away + tarati he crosses over — more at ukase, through

First Known Use: 1784

Related to AVATAR

Synonyms

abstract, embodiment, embodier, epitome, externalization, genius, icon (also ikon), image, incarnation, incorporation, instantiation, manifestation, objectification, personification, personifier

Related Words

actualization, concretization, exemplification, personalization, realization, substantiation; essence, quintessence, soul; archetype, exemplar, model, paradigm, pattern; reincarnation

Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms

Zen, antinomian, gnosticism, illuminati, ineffable, karma, koan, mantra

Rhymes with AVATAR

abattoir, acinar, air guitar, Aligarh, aide-mémoire, arctic char, au revoir, blazing star, bolivar, Bolívar, brittle star, bumper car, cabin car, cable car, café noir, Castlebar, cinnabar, coffee bar, color bar, command car, commissar, coplanar, Côte d'Ivoire, cultivar, deodar, dining car, double bar, double star, error bar, escolar, escritoire, evening star, exemplar, falling star, feather star, funny car, giant star, handlebar, insofar, isobar, Issachar, jacamar, jaguar, jaunting car, Kandahar, kilobar, Krasnodar, mason jar, megabar, megastar, millibar, minibar, minicar, Miramar, montagnard, morning star, motorcar, Mudejar, muscle car, Myanmar, neutron star, objet d'art, open bar, parlor car, pinot noir, Qiqihar, registrar, rent-a-car, repertoire, reservoir, ricercar, rising star, salad bar, Salazar, samovar, scimitar, seminar, shooting star, Silver Star, simular, sleeping car, steak tartare, steel guitar, subahdar, superstar, tiki bar, torsion bar, touring car, tutelar, turbocar, Valdemar, VCR, Veadar, wrecking bar, wunderbar, X-ray star, Yourcenar, zamindar, Zanzibar

avatar

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In Hinduism, the incarnation of a deity in human or animal form to counteract an evil in the world. It usually refers to 10 appearances of Vishnu, including an incarnation as the Buddha Gautama and Kalkin (the incarnation yet to come). The doctrine appears in the Bhagavadgita in the words of Lord Krishna to Arjuna: “Whenever there is a decline of righteousness and rise of unrighteousness then I send forth Myself.”