icon
icon — 名詞
1. a small picture on a computer, phone, or tablet screen that you click or touch t
圖示；圖標
螢幕上代表程式或檔案的小圖形
a small picture on a computer, phone, or tablet screen that you click or touch to open a program, start an action, or see a file.
Isabela tapped the camera icon on her phone to take a selfie.
Isabela 點了手機上的相機圖示，拍了一張自拍照。
icon + tap/click — physical action on a touchscreen
Drag the folder icon into the trash to delete your old documents.
把資料夾圖示拖到垃圾桶，刪除你的舊文件。
The Wi‑Fi icon in the top corner shows whether you are connected to the internet.
螢幕頂端的 Wi‑Fi 圖示會顯示你是否已連上網路。
Felix double‑clicked the green icon to launch the video‑editing software.
Felix 連按兩下綠色圖示，啟動了影片剪輯軟體。
文法句型
the/your + noun + icon
icon + for/of + noun
用法筆記
Common verbs paired with icon: click (on), tap, double‑click, drag, select. The icon is usually described by its function (email icon, settings icon, search icon) or its visual label (trash icon, magnifying‑glass icon).
常見錯誤
2. someone or something so widely famous that they come to represent a complete set
偶像；典範
象徵某種信念或時代的名人或事物
someone or something so widely famous that they come to represent a complete set of values, a historical era, or a cultural movement — for example, a singer who embodies teenage rebellion, or a landmark that defines an entire city.
The Sydney Opera House is an icon of modern architecture worldwide.
雪梨歌劇院是舉世公認的現代建築典範。
an icon of — pattern for expressing what the person/thing represents
Rosa Parks became an icon of civil rights by refusing to give up her seat.
Rosa Parks 因拒絕讓出座位，成為民權的象徵人物。
an icon of + abstract quality (civil rights) — genuine public figure with widespread recognition
Coca‑Cola has become a global icon whose red logo is recognised in nearly every country.
可口可樂已成為全球偶像，幾乎每個國家都認得它的紅色商標。
Minho said the athlete was a sporting icon who inspired a generation of young runners.
Minho 說那位運動員是體壇偶像，激勵了整整一代年輕跑者。
- symbol
more neutral — does not carry the same weight of widespread fame and admiration
- legend
stronger — implies lasting fame over a long period, often after the person's active years
- figurehead
more formal — a leader who represents a movement but may not have active power
- nobody
an unknown or unimportant person
文法句型
(cultural/fashion/global) icon
an icon of + noun (belief/era/community)
用法筆記
This sense carries a strong positive connotation of admiration at scale — the person or thing must be widely recognised, not just personally important. For a personally meaningful figure, use 'role model' or 'hero'. Subject can be a person, place, brand, or object.
常見錯誤
3. a sacred portrait — usually painted on a wooden board or made as a mosaic — that
聖像
東正教傳統中用於敬拜的神聖畫像或雕刻
a sacred portrait — usually painted on a wooden board or made as a mosaic — that shows a holy individual such as Christ, the mother of Jesus, or a saint, and is given special honour during prayer in Orthodox Christianity.
A golden icon of Archangel Michael hung above the doorway of the small Greek church.
一座金色的天使長米迦勒聖像掛在那間希臘小教堂的門上方。
icon of + holy figure — typical form
Hassan learned how Byzantine monks painted icons using egg tempera on wooden panels.
Hassan 學到拜占庭修士如何用蛋彩在木板上繪製聖像。
The museum displayed a 14th‑century Russian icon of Saint George slaying the dragon.
博物館展出的一幅十四世紀俄羅斯聖像，描繪了聖喬治屠龍的情景。
Piotr lit a candle in front of the icon of the Virgin Mary and whispered a prayer.
Piotr 在聖母像前點了一根蠟燭，低聲祈禱。
- religious painting
more general — does not imply the specific Eastern Christian tradition of veneration
- image
broader — can mean any visual representation; lacks the ritual context
- portrait
focuses on likeness of a person, not on spiritual function
文法句型
icon of + holy person
painted/wooden/gold icon
用法筆記
In Eastern Christian practice, icons are venerated (honoured with gestures such as bowing or kissing) but not worshipped. The term is not typically used for Western religious paintings — those are called 'religious paintings' or 'altarpieces'. Distinguish from sense 4 (SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION), where no religious context is implied.
常見錯誤
❌ 'There was an icon of Jesus on the wall of the Catholic church in Rome.' — works in casual speech for any religious image, but careful usage reserves 'icon' for the Eastern Christian tradition of panel paintings intended for veneration, not decorative Western wall paintings.
4. a visual mark, design, or object that stands for a particular quality, organisat
標誌；象徵
代表品質、組織或概念的視覺符號
a visual mark, design, or object that stands for a particular quality, organisation, brand, or idea — such as a heart shape meaning love or a company logo representing its products.
The Statue of Liberty is an icon of freedom and hope for immigrants arriving in New York.
自由女神像是自由與希望的象徵，迎接抵達紐約的移民。
an icon of + abstract quality — the core grammatical pattern
Tamar designed a new icon for the charity that shows two hands forming a heart.
Tamar 為該慈善機構設計了一個新標誌，圖案是兩隻手合成一顆心。
The Olympic rings are perhaps the most recognised sporting icon in the world.
奧運五環或許是全世界最廣為人知的體育標誌。
Salma chose a simple tree icon for her organic‑food company because it suggests nature and health.
Salma 為她的有機食品公司選擇了一個簡單的樹木標誌，因為它能讓人聯想到自然與健康。
文法句型
an icon of + abstract quality (freedom/peace/justice)
become an icon for + group/organisation
用法筆記
This sense is broader than sense 2 (FAMOUS REPRESENTATIVE): it covers any symbol, not only famous ones. Anything can be 'an icon of X' — a dove as an icon of peace, a colour as an icon of a political party. Frequently used in branding and graphic design contexts.
常見錯誤
❌ 'The heart icon means love.' — acceptable, but 'the heart symbol' or 'the heart shape' is more natural for non‑screen contexts. Reserve 'icon' for deliberate logos, emblems, or UI elements.
icon — 構詞成分
1. relating to an image, picture, or likeness; used as a prefix in nouns and adject
圖像
與圖像或視覺符號有關的構詞成分
relating to an image, picture, or likeness; used as a prefix in nouns and adjectives that describe the use or study of visual symbols.
The course covers Renaissance art history and Christian iconography in detail.
這門課詳細介紹了文藝復興藝術史與基督教圖像學。
iconography: study of visual symbols in art
An iconoclast is someone who attacks cherished beliefs or traditions.
圖像破壞者就是攻擊人們珍視的信念或傳統的人。
iconoclast: person who attacks established beliefs
The iconostasis — a screen covered with icons — separates the altar from the main part of an Eastern Orthodox church.
聖像屏——一面掛滿聖像的隔屏——將祭壇與東正教堂的主殿隔開。
Takeshi argued that the filmmaker used iconic camera angles to turn the setting into a symbolic character itself.
Takeshi 在論文中主張，那位導演運用了具象徵意義的鏡頭角度，使場景本身成為一個有象徵意涵的角色。
文法句型
icon- + noun
icon- + adjective suffix
用法筆記
The combining form icon- appears in English words borrowed from Greek or Latin. It is not used as a standalone prefix in modern English — the full borrowed word (iconography, iconoclast, iconometer) must be learned as a unit.