# I'm looking for as good definition for the word "avatar" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2013, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-as-good-definition-for-the-word-avatar/670967 "2013-10-11T11:29:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-as-good-definition-for-the-word-avatar/670967/1 "2013-10-11T11:29:04Z")
Hi, I’m looking for as good definition for the word “avatar”. I know it’s used in computer simulations but I don’t have a good definition for it. I look forward to your feedback. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-as-good-definition-for-the-word-avatar/670967/2 "2013-10-11T11:36:26Z")
> [@davidmich](#): > > Hi, > > I’m looking for as good definition for the word “avatar”. I know it’s used in computer simulations but I don’t have a good definition for it. > I look forward to your feedback. > davidmich Its got a NEW meaning in social computing, where you “see” other people, where it refers to their thumbnail/profile picture/Or there character. EG If a player chooses to play a persian cat, then the avatar is the persian cat character or picture or 3d model… (The avatar is what OTHER people see, as in its only the virtual character, not the actual person… ) But its an old sanskrit word, hence you might be wanting the other meanings Try the Merriam Webster definitions > **[Definition of AVATAR](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avatar)** > > an electronic image (as in a video game) that represents and may be manipulated by a computer user; the incarnation of a Hindu deity (such as Vishnu); an incarnation in human form… See the full definition ---
**Author:** ![Obnoxious\_Hood\_Ornament](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Obnoxious\_Hood\_Ornament](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obnoxious_Hood_Ornament)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-as-good-definition-for-the-word-avatar/670967/3 "2013-10-11T12:32:40Z")
An avatar is a personification of an idea or concept. This has been adapted to cover personas (online ‘avatar’) in recent times. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-as-good-definition-for-the-word-avatar/670967/4 "2013-10-11T12:45:59Z")
In Hindu mythology, an avatar is a deliberate manifestation (literally, descent) of a god onto the Earth, in human, animal or mythological form. The most famous avatars are those of Vishnu, who has currently appeared nine times, and the appearance of the tenth (Kalki) will mark the end of this cycle of life in the universe. > **[Avatar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar)** > > Avatar (Sanskrit: अवतार, avatāra; pronounced \[ɐʋɐt̪aːɾɐ\]) is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means "descent". It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, goddess or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes used to refer to any guru or revered human being. > The word avatar does not appear in the Vedic literature; however, it appears in developed forms in post-Vedic literature, and as a noun particularly ... The social and computing idea of an avatar has been adapted from this. ---
**Author:** ![davidmich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-as-good-definition-for-the-word-avatar/670967/5 "2013-10-11T13:22:36Z")
Thank you all very much. davidmich ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-looking-for-as-good-definition-for-the-word-avatar/670967/6 "2013-10-11T14:06:31Z")
I would define the computing sense as “A visible representation of a human user in a virtual environment”.