icon
UK[ˈaɪ.kɒn]US[ˈaɪ.kɑːn]
n
A small picture or symbol on a computer screen that you click on to start a program, open a file, etc.
n
A famous person or thing that people admire and see as a symbol of a particular idea, way of life, etc.
n
(In the Orthodox Church) a painting or statue of a holy person that is itself considered sacred.
Etymology
The word 'icon' entered English in the late 16th century via Latin from the Greek 'eikōn', meaning 'likeness, image, portrait'. The Greek term itself is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root weik- meaning 'to resemble, be like'. This etymological journey from a general concept of likeness to a specific sacred image in Orthodox Christianity, and later to a secular symbol of veneration or a digital pictogram, illustrates a clear semantic evolution. The core logic of 'icon' has consistently centered on a visual representation that stands for and evokes something greater than itself, whether a deity, a cultural ideal, or a software function.
Analysis
The word 'icon' is a direct loanword from Greek, where it functioned as a single, unsegmentable unit meaning 'image, likeness, portrait'. It is not productively formed from smaller morphemes in modern English.
Examples
Double-click on the printer icon to install the necessary drivers.
She became a fashion icon, known for her unique and influential style.
The church was filled with beautiful icons painted on wooden panels.