Definition of icon

The word "icon" has its roots in Greek where it is used to describe a sacred image or painting. In ancient Greek, the word "eikon" (εικων) literally meant "image" or "likeness". For the ancient Greeks, these images were often created to represent deities or other important figures, with the belief that they possessed a mystical power. The use of such images spread to the Eastern Orthodox Church, where icons became a prominent part of religious rituals and ceremonies. For this Christian denomination, icons are seen as "windows to the divine" and as a means of facilitating communication between the faithful and holy figures. The term "icon" has since been adopted into many other languages, including English, and has taken on new meanings. In contemporary culture, it is often used to refer to symbols of cultural or historical significance, such as an image of Mohandas Gandhi, which represents his ideas and values. In the digital world, an icon is simply a small, graphical representation of a function or object on a computer screen or other digital device.