noun
avatar
uh-tahr
noun
1
A small picture or digital figure that represents a person online, such as on a forum or social media profile.
"She changed her avatar to a photo of her dog."
2
A digital character that represents a person in a video game or virtual world.
"Players customize their avatar's appearance before starting the game."
3
In Hindu belief, the earthly incarnation of a god, especially Vishnu.
"Krishna is worshipped as an avatar of Vishnu."
How to Use Avatar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA picture or character that stands in for a real person online — or, originally, a god's appearance on earth.
Common pairings
profile avatar
choose an avatar
avatar of Vishnu
Word Forms
avatars plural
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Etymology
From Sanskrit avatara, "descent of a deity," borrowed into English in the 18th century; the online-profile meaning grew out of its use in 1980s video games.