You searched for: “icons
icon, eikon, ikon (s) (noun), icons (pl)
1. A visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface; such as, a picture, image, or other representation.
2. Eastern Church, a representation of some sacred personage, as Christ or a saint or angel, painted usually on a wood surface and venerated itself as sacred.
3. A sign or representation that stands for its object by virtue of a resemblance or analogy to it.
4. An important and enduring symbol.
5. In semiotics, that stands for its object by virtue of a resemblance or analogy to it.
6. With computers, a sign, representation, or a picture on a computer screen that represents a specific file, directory, window, option, or program.

When an icon is clicked on, some action is performed; such as, opening a directory or aborting a file transfer.

The term originates from Alan Kay's theory for designing interfaces which was primarily based on the work of Jerome Bruner. Bruner's second developmental stage, iconic, uses a system of representation that depends on visual or other sensory organization and upon the use of summarising images.

This entry is located in the following unit: icono-, icon- (page 1)
Word Entries containing the term: “icons
autoicons, auto-icons
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), the philosopher-author whose clothed skeleton is on display at University College, London, thought that dead people should all be embalmed and used as their own monuments.

Based on information from Word and Phrase Origins

This entry is located in the following unit: auto-, aut- (page 11)