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idol

Syllabification: (i·dol)
Pronunciation: /ˈīdl/
Translate idol | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of idol

noun

  • an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship.
  • a person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered:movie idol Robert Redford

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French idole, from Latin idolum 'image, form' (used in ecclesiastical Latin in the sense 'idol'), from Greek eidōlon, from eidos 'form, shape'

Do not confuse idol with idle. Idol means 'a person who is admired by many people' (a pop idol) or 'a statue or picture of a god that is worshipped' whereas idle means 'lazy' or 'pointless' (idle chatter).

idol in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of idol in the British & World English dictionary
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