Avatar Definition

ăvə-tär

avatars

noun

avatars

The incarnation of a Hindu deity, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form.

American Heritage

A god appearing on earth in bodily form; incarnation of a god.

Webster's New World

An embodiment or manifestation, as of a quality or concept.

American Heritage

Any incarnation or embodiment, as of a quality or concept in a person.

Webster's New World

A temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity.

Occultism in its present avatar.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Avatar

Singular:

avatar

Plural:

avatars

In computing use, saw some use in 1980s videos games – 1985 online role-playing game Habitat by Lucasfilm Games (today LucasArts), by Chip Morningstar and Randy Farmer, later versions of the Ultima series (following religious use in 1985 Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar), and 1989 pen and paper role-playing game Shadowrun. Popularized by 1992 novel Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.

From Wiktionary
1784, from Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu) अवतार / اوتار (avatār), from Sanskrit अवतार (ava-tāra, “descent of a deity from a heaven”), a compound of अव (ava, “off, away, down”) and the vṛddhi-stem of the root √tṝ (“to cross”).

From Wiktionary
Sanskrit avatāraḥ descent (of a deity from heaven), avatar ava down tarati he crosses terə-² in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition