avatar

UK: /ˈævəˌtɑː/ US: /ˈævəˌtɑr/ ,(av′ə tär′, av′ə tär′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

av•a•tar /ˈævəˌtɑr/   n. [countable]

1. Eastern Religions an appearance of a Hindu god, esp. in human form.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

av•a•tar  (av′ə tär′, av′ə tär′), n. 

1. Eastern Religions [Hindu Myth.] the descent of a deity to the earth in an incarnate form or some manifest shape;
   the incarnation of a god.
2. Eastern Religions an embodiment or personification, as of a principle, attitude, or view of life.
3. Computing a graphical image that represents a person, as on the Internet.

• Sanskrit avatāra a passing down, equivalent. to ava down + -tāra a passing over
• 1775–85

avatar, +n. 

1. Computing a graphical image that represents a person, as on the Internet.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

avatar / ˈævəˌtɑː/ noun

1. the manifestation of a deity, notably Vishnu, in human, superhuman, or animal form
2. a visible manifestation or embodiment of an abstract concept; archetype

Etymology: 18th Century: from Sanskrit avatāra a going down, from avatarati he descends, from ava down + tṝ (verbal root) to cross over