01 n. An imitation, representation, or similitude of any person, thing, or act, sculptured, drawn, painted, or otherwise made perceptible to the …
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1.
An imitation, representation, or similitude of any person, thing, or act, sculptured, drawn, painted, or otherwise made perceptible to the sight; a visible presentation; a copy; a likeness; an effigy; a picture; a semblance.“Even like a stony image, cold and numb.” — Shak.“Whose is this image and superscription?” — Matt. xxii. 20.“This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna.” — Shak.“And God created man in his own image.” — Gen. i. 27.
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2.
Hence: The likeness of anything to which worship is paid; an idol.“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, . . . thou shalt not bow down thyself to them.” — Ex. xx. 4, 5.
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3.
Show; appearance; cast.“The face of things a frightful image bears.” — Dryden.
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4.
A representation of anything to the mind; a picture drawn by the fancy; a conception; an idea.“Can we conceive Image of aught delightful, soft, or great?” — Prior.
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5.
A picture, example, or illustration, often taken from sensible objects, and used to illustrate a subject; usually, an extended metaphor.(Rhet.)
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6.
The figure or picture of any object formed at the focus of a lens or mirror, by rays of light from the several points of the object symmetrically refracted or reflected to corresponding points in such focus; this may be received on a screen, a photographic plate, or the retina of the eye, and viewed directly by the eye, or with an eyeglass, as in the telescope and microscope; the likeness of an object formed by reflection; as, to see one's image in a mirror.(Opt.)
Phrases & compounds
Electrical image —
See under Electrical.
Image breaker —
one who destroys images; an iconoclast.
Image graver —
a sculptor.
Image worship —
the worship of images as symbols; iconolatry distinguished from idolatry; the worship of images themselves.
Image Purkinje —
the image of the retinal blood vessels projected in, not merely on, that membrane.
Virtual image —
a point or system of points, on one side of a mirror or lens, which, if it existed, would emit the system of rays which actually exists on the other side of the mirror or lens.