2006-07-13 02:30:06 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
An avatar is a projection of spirit, sometimes in flesh. Gods (particularly in Greek and Roman mythology, and also in others) have been known to take human form, or appear in spiritual form and walk the earth/interact with mortals, etc. That projection is an avatar. Its analog in the Cyber world is that your avatar is a proejction of your spirit and personality (it has a face, expressions of emotion, etc).
2006-07-13 02:34:46 · answer #1 · answered by zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The original meaning of the word 'avatar' has something to do with a representation of a divine being.
In this original meaning, an avatar is an earthly manifestation of one of the gods in human or animal form. For example, Krishna is an avatar of Vishnu, Jesus is an avatar of Jehovah. In other words: an avatar is a being through whom God manifests himself.
In the modern internet era, an avatar is as you know still a representation but no longer of a God, but of a human being behind a computer screen.
2006-07-13 09:34:07 · answer #2 · answered by vanchan_london 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Avatar comes from Sanskrit (Hindi) language .....
ava=away + tarati = cross over
It means:
1 : the incarnation of a Hindu deity
2 a : an incarnation in human form b : an embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person
3 : a variant phase or version of a continuing basic entity
4 : an electronic image that represents and is manipulated by a computer user (as in a computer game)
2006-07-13 09:38:56 · answer #3 · answered by sighspy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It currently means:
"in computing, an image which represents you in online games, chat rooms, etc. and which you can move around the screen using the mouse or keys"
but I remember, when I was younger (about 9 years ago) I was in a band and we called ourselves AVATAR, as we were into bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
Avatar, when I looked up the word in the dictionary, back then, actually meant
"another being, either godly or spiritually" and that's why we chose the name.
but god knows why the definition has changed in the dictionary...
2006-07-13 09:35:58 · answer #4 · answered by hippyJu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A real avatar is an earthly manifestation of one of the gods in human or animal form, eg, Krishna is an avatar of Vishnu, Jesus is an avatar of Jehovah. A being through whom God manifests himself. The spiritual founder of an age or a dynasty. Such a one has supposedly progressed beyond the need to be reincarnated.
It's been transferred, though, to mean 'a cyber manifestation of a real person in picture form.' It is either used to show what someone would like to look like (in their dreams, lol!) or to be a symbol of their ego. You can make what you like of my 'avatar' :)
2006-07-13 09:36:08 · answer #5 · answered by Owlwings 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Avatar is a religious term originally. Avatars were the bodies gods took when they came to earth.
2006-07-13 09:33:19 · answer #6 · answered by John J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Avatar is an sanskrit word for 'incarnation' Incarnation means that appearing in a different form, but having the propertied of original object.
Avtaar gives you a chance to change your appearence.
2006-07-13 12:02:15 · answer #7 · answered by EnigmaticEncounter 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've only encountered the word in relation to the Hindu god Vishnu, he had lots of different earthly incarnations, one was Krishna, one was an elephant, one was half fish etc. It sounds like an Indian word to me, but I don't know the etymology. Yahoo obviously thought it was a good name for a picture representing someone, as these images represented Vishnu or some other Indiand god.
2006-07-13 15:06:22 · answer #8 · answered by Rotifer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Avatar" is also a word for "Icon". Maybe It sounds cool so they used it instead of just calling 'em Icons.
2006-07-13 09:35:30 · answer #9 · answered by Avant Garde 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out the link below for a complete explanation. Good luck!
2006-07-13 09:35:00 · answer #10 · answered by Rowdy answers 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋