What is an Icon?

Answer 1

An Ikon is a "symbol" or "image", as in "image of God" (that's right, the Greek version of this uses "ikon". In the context of the Orthodox Church, an Ikon is more than just any old image, of course. It's an image made to specific criteria to represent a departed Saint, an Angel, Christ, or an event from Scripture. It needs to be done according to specific methods and adhering to a non-naturalistic style, in part to remind the faithful that it is, for whatever meaning it might have, still just an image. For example, Ikons of Christ are not, themselves, God. They are windows toward God.

Answer 2

an icon is an image of something that represents ... (usually what it represents is well known..) like the hour glass on widows program represents the computer is working... we have many such icons on our desk tops... to statues like the statue of liberty... or lady justice... then there are religious icons such as saints and what the church calls holy people.... same too goes for Buddha... and so on..

Answer 3

Well, you avatar is a good example.

Here are some more
http://images.google.com/images?q=catholic+icons&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&start=20&sa=N&ndsp=20

Answer 4

It is a picture that identifies something, like the Nike symbol.
Or a person that stands out as an example.

Answer 5

The little symbols on your desktop.

Answer 6

its a type of symbol to directly characterize something.