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image

n. · v.
US //ˈɪmədʒ// UK //ˈɪmɪdʒ// im·age
  1. 1 a picture (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a picture, photograph, or painting of a person or thing.

    a visual representation of the external form of an object or person in art or photography.

    Example

    The website includes a high-quality image of the new hotel.

    Example

    The satellite captured a remarkably clear image of the storm system as it moved across the coast.
  2. 2 public reputation (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the way that people think about a person, group, or company.

    the general impression that a person, organisation, or product presents to the public.

    Example

    The company is trying to improve its image by using more recycled materials.

    Example

    The politician hired a consultant to help soften his public image before the upcoming election cycle.
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  1. 3 mental picture (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a picture that you have in your mind.

    a mental representation or idea of something not present to the senses.

    Example

    I had a clear image in my head of how the garden would look in summer.

    Example

    The poet uses vivid language to create a haunting image of the abandoned city.
  2. 4 computing file (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a file that contains a complete copy of all the data on a disk or system.

    a single file containing the complete contents and structure of a data storage medium or device.

    Example

    You should create a disk image of your hard drive before installing the new software.

    Example

    The administrator deployed the operating system across the network using a pre-configured disk image.
  3. 5 mathematical result (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Technical Math

    the result you get after putting a number into a mathematical rule or function.

    the set of values a function takes when applied to all elements in its domain.

    Example

    In this equation, the image of x is always a positive number.

    Example

    The professor asked the students to map the function and identify the image of the subset.
  4. 6 to create a picture (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    to make a picture of something, often using special equipment like a scanner.

    to produce a visual representation of something, especially using medical or scientific equipment.

    Example

    Doctors used an MRI to image the patient's brain.

    Example

    Advanced telescopes allow astronomers to image distant galaxies that were previously invisible.
Origin

From Middle English ymage, borrowed from Old French image, from Latin imāgō (“a copy, likeness, image”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eym-; the same PIE root is the source of imitari (“to copy, imitate”); see imitate. Doublet of imago.

Word family

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