idol
idol — noun
1. a person — such as a singer, actor, or athlete — who is greatly loved, admired,
a person — such as a singer, actor, or athlete — who is greatly loved, admired, and respected by many people, often to the point of being treated as a role model or object of devotion.
As a teenager, Wren had posters of her idol all over her bedroom walls.
collocation: have posters of one's idol
The young singer became the idol of millions of fans across Southeast Asia.
pattern: idol of + [group of people]
Cole was too nervous to speak when meeting his childhood idol at a book signing.
The band's lead guitarist has been a teen idol since their first album.
Many young athletes look up to sports idols as sources of inspiration and motivation.
- hero
emphasizes courage, admirable qualities, or achievements — less tied to celebrity culture
- role model
focuses on the person's influence and example for others to follow
- star
more neutral term for a famous performer; does not carry the same emotional devotion as 'idol'
文法句型
idol + of + [group/nation/genre]
用法筆記
In modern contexts, this sense almost always refers to celebrities in entertainment or sports. The possessive form 'idol of' is common with groups ('idol of teenagers', 'idol of a generation').
常見錯誤
2. a physical object — such as a picture, carved figure, statue, or symbol — that p
a physical object — such as a picture, carved figure, statue, or symbol — that people use as a focus for prayer and devotion within their religious or spiritual practice.
The worshippers knelt before the idol and offered flowers and incense.
verb collocation: kneel before an idol
Anjali's grandmother kept a small idol of Ganesha on a shelf in the kitchen.
pattern: idol of + [deity name]
Scholars disagree about whether ancient cave paintings were idols used in religious ceremonies.
The museum displayed a collection of bronze idols from the Han dynasty.
- icon
specifically a painted religious image in Eastern Christian traditions; also used broadly for any symbol
- effigy
a three-dimensional representation of a person, often life-size; more formal and less common in everyday speech
- statue
a carved or cast figure of a person or animal; neutral term without religious connotations
文法句型
worship/pray to + an idol
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3: sense 2 covers any religious object used in prayer (including pictures and symbols), while sense 3 refers specifically to a statue worshipped as a divine being. This sense is also the historical origin of the word's meaning.
常見錯誤
3. a statue, carving, or other sculpted representation that people treat as a divin
a statue, carving, or other sculpted representation that people treat as a divine being and pray to as a god, believing it holds spiritual power or authority.
The temple contained a golden idol that had been venerated for centuries.
passive: be venerated for [period]
Takeshi studied how ancient civilizations carved idols from stone and wood for their ceremonies.
verb collocation: carve an idol
Missionaries described the local people bowing before an idol made of clay and gold leaf.
The prophet criticized the townspeople for bowing down to idols made by human hands.
- effigy
a representation of a person, often used in rituals; does not necessarily imply worship as a god
- fetish
an object believed to have magical powers; used in anthropology, not everyday speech
- graven image
a biblical term for an idol carved from stone or metal; very formal or literary register
文法句型
worship + [noun] as an idol
用法筆記
This sense is narrower than sense 2: it applies only to statues or effigies regarded as actual deities, not to pictures, symbols, or objects used as prayer aids. Common in discussions of ancient religions, biblical texts, and anthropological studies.