image

play

noun im·age \ ˈi-mij \

Definition of image

1 :a reproduction or imitation of the form of a person or thing; especially :an imitation in solid form :statue

2 a :the optical counterpart of an object produced by an optical device (such as a lens or mirror) or an electronic device

b :a visual representation of something: such as

(1) :a likeness of an object produced on a photographic material

(2) :a picture produced on an electronic display (such as a television or computer screen)

3 a :exact likeness :semblance

God created man in his own image
—Genesis 1:27 (Revised Standard Version)

b :a person strikingly like another person

she is the image of her mother

4 a :a tangible or visible representation :incarnation

the image of filial devotion

b archaic :an illusory form :apparition

5 a (1) :a mental picture or impression of something

had a negative body image of herself

(2) :a mental conception held in common by members of a group and symbolic of a basic attitude and orientation

a disorderly courtroom can seriously tarnish a community's image of justice
—Herbert Brownell

b :idea, concept

6 :a vivid or graphic representation or description

7 :figure of speech

8 :a popular conception (as of a person, institution, or nation) projected especially through the mass media

promoting a corporate image of brotherly love and concern
—R. C. Buck

9 :a set of values given by a mathematical function (such as a homomorphism) that corresponds to a particular subset of the domain

See image defined for English-language learners

See image defined for kids

Examples of image in a Sentence

She studied her image in the mirror.
The kids sat staring at the images on the TV screen.
painters capturing images of war
black-and-white images of the city
His poem evokes images of the sea and warm summer days.
He is trying hard to improve his image.
The law suit has negatively affected the company's public image.
a politician who cares more about image than about telling the truth

Recent Examples of image from the Web

Several Courier-Journal photojournalists were in the path of totality to capture images of the natural wonder.

— scott utterback, The Courier-Journal, "Own a piece of 2017 solar eclipse history," 30 Aug. 2017
The video images helped the authorities identify at least two of the suspected assailants, Mr. Ramos and another man, Daniel P. Borden, who was arrested in Ohio on Friday.

— frances robles, New York Times, "Charlottesville Beating Suspect Is Arrested in Georgia," 29 Aug. 2017
For example, radiographic images show old and new fractures, which suggest a pattern of multiple traumatic events.

— barbara sadick, Kaiser Health News, "Elder Abuse: ERs Learn How To Protect A Vulnerable Population," 28 Aug. 2017
But when the TV in the tiny visiting manager’s office at Oakland Coliseum was showing videos and images Sunday from Houston, where the remnants of Harvey are causing a 500-year flood, Banister looked on in dismay.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "Rangers concerned with city of Houston, not playing there," 27 Aug. 2017
Scientists will use the near-infrared images of the surface to look for warmer areas that could be signs of plumes or geologic activity.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "The James Webb Space Telescope Will Study the Solar System's Watery Moons," 25 Aug. 2017
The studio is reversing everything Christopher Nolan and Heath Ledger did to make the Joker such an iconic cultural image.

— matt miller, Esquire, "With Yet Another Joker Movie, It's Clear DC Is Ready to Ruin the Character," 24 Aug. 2017
Other images even feature her grinning at the hostess desk.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Reese Witherspoon's Mini-Me Daughter Has a Very Normal Summer Job," 23 Aug. 2017
After Guantánamo’s image became toxic worldwide, and the Supreme Court ruled that the judicial branch could hear habeas corpus lawsuits by the detainees, Bush began trying to close the prison.

— charlie savage and adam goldman, miamiherald, "Trump officials renew effort to expand use of Guantánamo prison," 19 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'image.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of image

Middle English, from Anglo-French, short for imagene, from Latin imagin-, imago; perhaps akin to Latin imitari to imitate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

image Synonyms

Synonyms

alter ego, carbon, carbon copy, clone, counterpart, doppelgänger (or doppelganger), double, duplicate, duplication, facsimile, fetch, likeness, look-alike, match, mirror image, picture, replica, ringer, spit, spitting image, twin

Related Words

Chinese copy; effigy, portrait, portrayal; companion, fellow, mate; equal, equivalent; analogue (or analog), parallel

Near Antonyms

antithesis, converse, opposite, reverse

Other Pictures (on film) Terms

daguerreotype, emulsion, fill, sepia, still, stop

image

verb

Definition of image

imaged; imaging

transitive verb

1 :to call up a mental picture of :imagine

2 :to describe or portray in language especially in a vivid manner

3 a :to create a representation of; also :to form an image of

imaged Jupiter's rings

image the bone using X-rays

b :to represent symbolically

4 a :reflect, mirror

b :to make appear :project

—

imager

play \ˈi-mi-jər\ noun

Examples of image in a Sentence

in the painting Sacagawea is imaged as an intrepid woman pointing the way for Lewis and Clark
the brochure images a vacation at the resort in language that makes you want to make a reservation this instant

Recent Examples of image from the Web

Photographer: Joe Raedle/Getty Images People walk down a flooded street in Houston on Monday, Aug. 28.

— brian k sullivan, Bloomberg.com, "In Pictures: Harvey Wreaks Havoc Across Texas," 28 Aug. 2017
Investigators ask anyone with information about the fire or the identities of the people seen in the surveillance images to contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office or call Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County, anonymously, at 800-458-8477.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Did these five people burn down a church?," 25 Aug. 2017
Update 3:05 p.m.: SpaceX successfully launched the Formasat-5 imaging satellite to orbit for Taiwan's National Space Organization.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "SpaceX to Attempt Twelfth Launch of the Year," 24 Aug. 2017
Sometimes other testing is needed to rule out more serious conditions, such as imaging studies and a spinal tap.

— meredith cohn, baltimoresun.com, "Bell's Palsy a common condition, usually treatable," 23 Aug. 2017
In contrast to optical instruments on most Earth orbiting satellites that image the planet, ICEYE uses synthetic-aperture radar technology.

— eric berger, Ars Technica, "Satellites that can image Earth at night, and through clouds, near launch," 23 Aug. 2017
Cassini discovered new rings and imaged where moons disturb the arcs of these rings.

— dean regas, Cincinnati.com, "Skywatch: Solving the mystery of Saturn's rings," 25 July 2017
Elliot Peck, executive vice president and general manager of imaging technologies and communications group for Canon, said there have been many technological advancements over the past five years the company needs to keep up with.

— anthony clark carpio, Burbank Leader, "Canon shoots for broader picture with new support facility in Burbank," 14 July 2017
Imaging studies have also shown the effects of smells on our brain's limbic system and its emotional pathways, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine on PubMed.gov.

— ann maloney, NOLA.com, "Beachy Blood Marys recipe," 28 June 2017

First Known Use of image

14th century

image Synonyms

Synonyms

depict, picture, portray, represent

Related Words

delineate, describe, document, render; outline, silhouette, sketch; illustrate, show; diagram; caricature

Near Antonyms

color, distort, falsify, garble, misdescribe, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, twist, warp

IMAGE Defined for English Language Learners

image

play

noun

Definition of image for English Language Learners

: a picture that is produced by a camera, artist, mirror, etc.
: a mental picture : the thought of how something looks or might look
: the idea that people have about someone or something

IMAGE Defined for Kids

image

play

noun im·age \ ˈi-mij \

Definition of image for Students

1 :a picture or reflection of something produced by a device (as a mirror or lens)

We watched the images on the screen.

2 :someone who looks very much like another

She is the image of her mother.

3 :the thought of how something looks

An image appeared in his head of his parents hugging each other and crying.
—Louis Sachar, Holes

4 :a representation (as a picture or statue) of something

5 :an idea of what someone or something is like

He has an image as a troublemaker.

Medical Dictionary

image

play

noun im·age \ ˈim-ij \

medical Definition of image

1 a :the optical counterpart of an object produced by an optical device (as a lens or mirror) or an electronic device — see real image, virtual image

b :a likeness of an object produced on a photographic material

2 :a mental picture or impression of something

had a negative body image of herself

: as

a (1) :a mental conception held in common by members of a group and symbolic of a basic attitude and orientation

the compassionate small-town family doctor, an image that the AMA deeply admires
—Current Biography

(2) :an idealized conception of a person and especially a parent that is formed by an infant or child, is retained in the unconscious, and influences behavior in later life

the overwhelming influence of the mother image
—John Messenger

— called also imago

b :the memory of a perception in psychology that is modified by subsequent experience; also :the representation of the source of a stimulus on a receptor mechanism

image

verb

medical Definition of image

imaged; imaging

transitive verb

1 :to call up a mental picture of :imagine

2 :to create a representation of; also :to form an image of

the liver was imaged

the animals were anesthetized and imaged with a gamma camera
—R. T. Proffitt et al

intransitive verb

:to form an image

Learn More about image

See words that rhyme with image Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for image Spanish Central: Translation of image Nglish: Translation of image for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of image for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about image

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Examples of image in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of image

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Synonyms

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Other Pictures (on film) Terms

image

Definition of image

imager

Examples of image in a Sentence

Recent Examples of image from the Web

First Known Use of image

image Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Phrases Related to IMAGE

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IMAGE Defined for English Language Learners

image

Definition of image for English Language Learners

IMAGE Defined for Kids

image

Definition of image for Students

Medical Dictionary

image

medical Definition of image

image

medical Definition of image

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