Definition of Avatar

Babylon English
avatar
n. (Hindu mythology) earthly incarnation of a god, human embodiment of a deity; (Internet) online image that represents a user in chat rooms or in a virtual "space"

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Avatar definition was found in categories: Computer & Internet(5)  Language, Idioms & Slang(3)  Medicine(1)  Religion & Spirituality(3)  Business & Finance(2)  Encyclopedia(1)  

Avatar Definition from Computer & Internet Dictionaries & Glossaries

FOLDOC
avatar
1. <chatvirtual reality> An image representing a user in a multi-user virtual reality (or VR-like, in the case of Palace) space.
2. (CMU, Tektronix) rootsuperuser. There are quite a few Unix computers on which the name of the superuser account is "avatar" rather than "root". This quirk was originated by a CMU hacker who disliked the term "superuser", and was propagated through an ex-CMU hacker at Tektronix.
[Jargon File]
(1997-09-14)

Jargon File
avatar
n. Syn. [in Hindu mythology, the incarnation of a god] 1. Among people working on virtual reality and cyberspace interfaces, an avatar is an icon or representation of a user in a shared virtual reality. The term is sometimes used on MUDs. 2. [CMU, Tektronix] root, superuser. There are quite a few Unix machines on which the name of the superuser account is `avatar' rather than `root'. This quirk was originated by a CMU hacker who found the terms `root' and `superuser' unimaginative, and thought `avatar' might better impress people with the responsibility they were accepting.

9300+ Computer Acronyms
AVATAR
Advanced Video Attribute Terminal Assembler and Recreator

Jensen's Technology Glossary
Avatar
This term refers to an interactive representation of a human in a virtual reality environment; the term was popularized by Neal Stephenson's novel "Snow Crash."

INTERNET TERMS&ACRONYMSV1.0
AVATAR
In chat and games,an icon to represent a participant.
In unix,a superuser-equal in privileges to root.


Avatar Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Avatar
(n.)
The descent of a deity to earth, and his incarnation as a man or an animal; -- chiefly associated with the incarnations of Vishnu.
  
(n.)
Incarnation; manifestation as an object of worship or admiration.
  

WordNet 2.0
avatar

Noun
1. a new personification of a familiar idea; "the embodiment of hope"; "the incarnation of evil"; "the very avatar of cunning"
(synonym) embodiment, incarnation
(hypernym) personification
(hyponym) deification
2. the manifestation of a Hindu deity (especially Vishnu) in human or superhuman or animal form; "the Buddha is considered an avatar of the god Vishnu"
(hypernym) Hindu deity
(hyponym) Jagannath, Jagannatha, Jagganath, Juggernaut

hEnglish - advanced version
avatar

avatar
\av`a*tar"\ (&?;), n. [skr. avatâra descent; ava from + root t&rsdot; to cross, pass over.]
1. (hindoo myth.) the descent of a deity to earth, and his incarnation as a man or an animal; -- chiefly associated with the incarnations of vishnu.
2. incarnation; manifestation as an object of worship or admiration.
avatar
n
1. a new embodiment of a familiar idea; "the incarnation of evil"; "the very avatar of cunning" [syn: embodiment, incarnation]


2. the manifestation of a hindu deity (especially vishnu) in human or superhuman or animal form; "the buddha is considered an avatar of the god vishnu"



Avatar Definition from Medicine Dictionaries & Glossaries

A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods
Avatar(R) (Avatar Course)
"Belief management" course developed in 1987. It supposedly is applicable to problems concerning education, finance, occupation, and health. Avatar's fundamental doctrine is that people have a natural ability to create or "discreate" any reality at will. This alleged ability stems from a hypothetical part of consciousness that proponents call "SOURCE."


Avatar Definition from Religion & Spirituality Dictionaries & Glossaries

Rakefet
Avatar
Avatar, Avatara (Sanskrit) [from ava down + the verbal root tri to cross over, pass] That which passes down or descends; the passing down of a celestial energy or an individualized complex of celestial energies -- a celestial being -- in order to overshadow and illuminate a human being who, at the time of such connection of divinity with matter, possesses no human soul karmically destined to be the inner master of the body thus born. "Hence an Avatara is one who has a combination of three elements in his being: an inspiring divinity; a highly evolved intermediate nature or soul, which is loaned to him and is the channel of that inspiring divinity; and a pure, clean, physical body" (OG 16).
Sankaracharya, Krishna, Lao-tzu, and Jesus were avataras in differing degrees, of somewhat differing structure. There was a divine ray which came down at the cyclic time of each of these incarnations, and the connecting link or the flame of mind was provided in each case by a member of the Hierarchy of Compassion. Krishna says, "I incarnate in period after period in order to destroy wickedness and reestablish righteousness" (BG ch 4, sl 8). Krishna here represents the Logos or logoic ray which "on our plane would be utterly helpless, inactive, and have no possible means of communication with us and our sphere, because that logoic ray lacks an intermediate and fully conscious vehicle or carrier, i.e., it lacks the intermediate or highly ethereal mechanism, the spiritual-human in us, which in ordinary man is but slightly active.
to be continue "Avatar2"

Hinduism Glossary for Introduction to Religion
Avatar
A manifestion of a god in an earthly form, usually that of a human or animal. The god Vishnu has two main avatars: Krishna and Rama .

YOGA
Avatar
incarnation of a god.


Avatar Definition from Business & Finance Dictionaries & Glossaries

Internet PR glossary
avatar
Three-dimensional representation or icon of a computer user in a virtual reality "space." See also virtual reality.

Company Info: Ticker, Name, Description
AVTR
Avatar Holdings Inc.
Exchange: Nasdaq
Acquires, develops and sells improved and unimproved real estate; Constructs and sells single and multi-family housing; Operates amenities and resorts; Treats, distributes and sells water for public and private use; Treats and disposes of sewage; Offers cable television and property management services; And provides consulting,

AVTRG
Avatar Holdings Inc.
Exchange: Nasdaq
Not Available


Avatar Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries

Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia
AVATAR

The AVATAR protocol (Advanced Video Attribute Terminal Assembler and Recreator) is a system of escape sequences occasionally used on Bulletin Board Systems (BBSes). It has largely the same functionality as the more popular ANSI escape codes, but has the advantage that the escape sequences are much shorter. AVATAR can thus render colored text and artwork much faster over slow connections.


See more at Wikipedia.org...


Avatar
In Hindu philosophy, an avatar (also spelled as avatara) (, ), most commonly refers to the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of a higher being (deva), or the Supreme Being (God) onto planet Earth. The Sanskrit word literally means "descent" (avatarati) and usually implies a deliberate descent into lower realms of existence for special purposes. The term is used primarily in Hinduism, for incarnations of Vishnu whom many Hindus worship as God. Shiva and Ganesha are also described as descending in the form of avatars, with the Ganesha Purana and the Mudgala Purana detailing Ganesha's avatars specifically.

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