icon

/ˈaɪkɒn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈaɪkɑːn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈī-ˌkän/ (ame, mw)

icon — 名詞

  • iconsingular
  • iconsplural

1. a small picture on a computer, phone, or tablet screen that you click or touch t

1.名詞A2
釋義

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.

例句

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。

同義詞
  • symbol

    more general — can refer to any token that stands for something, not limited to screens

  • button

    overlaps in UI contexts, but 'button' emphasises the clickable action; 'icon' emphasises the visual representation

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

❌I pressed the icon with my finger on the screen.
✅I tapped the icon on the screen.
💡'tap' is the standard collocation for touchscreens; 'press' is used for physical buttons.

2. someone or something so widely famous that they come to represent a complete set

2.名詞B2
釋義

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.

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • 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

❌My mother is my icon.
✅My mother is my role model.
💡'icon' implies broad public recognition; for a private/personal figure, use 'role model' or 'inspiration'.

3. a sacred portrait — usually painted on a wooden board or made as a mosaic — that

3.名詞C1
釋義

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.

例句

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。

同義詞
  • 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

4.名詞B2
釋義

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.

例句

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。

同義詞
  • emblem

    more formal; often implies official or heraldic use (national emblem)

  • logo

    specifically a graphic mark of a company or brand

  • symbol

    the most general term — any sign that stands for something else

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