a material effigy that is worshipped
"thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image"
"money was his god"
someone who is adored blindly and excessively
"The young fan treated her pop star as an idol, following every rumor and spending all her money on merchandise without question."
an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept
"The young athlete became an idol of speed, embodying every principle his coach taught about running."
A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power.
"The ancient temple housed a gold idol carved in the shape of a lion, which pilgrims worshipped as a conduit for divine strength."
In plain English: An idol is someone you admire and look up to very much, often because they are famous for something special.
"Many young fans travel to the concert just to meet their favorite idol in person."
Usage: In modern English, an idol refers primarily to a person who is greatly admired and imitated rather than the religious statue described in older definitions. Use this word when describing someone treated as a perfect role model, such as a celebrity or sports star.
The word "idol" entered English via Middle French as a borrowing from Latin, where it originally meant an image or statue rather than the modern sense of a false god. Its roots trace back through Ancient Greek to Proto-Indo-European languages, reflecting concepts related to seeing and form.