"avatar" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
"Avatar" refers to a representation or embodiment of a person, deity, or concept. In modern usage, it often denotes a custom-made digital character that a user creates to represent themselves in a virtual world, game, or online platform. The term also has historical roots in Hinduism and Buddhism, where it signifies the descent of a deity, especially Vishnu, into a human or animal form to intervene in the world.
1. In the world of online gaming, players often create avatars to represent themselves in the virtual environment.
- John's avatar was a muscular ninja with fiery red hair, reflecting his adventurous personality.
2. The term "avatar" is also used to describe a famous person or character that embodies a specific idea or movement.
- Gandhi is often considered an avatar of nonviolent resistance and social change.
3. In Hinduism, an avatar is a manifestation of a deity in a physical form.
- Vishnu's tenth and most famous avatar is Lord Krishna, known for his wisdom and divine teachings.
4. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter allow users to set profile pictures, which can be referred to as avatars.
- She updated her Instagram avatar to a stunning portrait taken during her recent trip to Paris.
5. In the 2009 film directed by James Cameron, "Avatar," the main character Jake Sully uses an alien avatar to interact with the indigenous Na'vi people.
- The groundbreaking visual effects in "Avatar" brought the lush world of Pandora and its inhabitants to life through intricate digital avatars.
Avaritia is a Latin term that refers to excessive greed or covetousness, particularly for wealth or material possessions. It is often associated with one of the seven deadly sins in Christian theology, representing an unhealthy desire for more than what is necessary or morally justifiable.
Avarous means excessively greedy or covetous, having an intense desire for wealth, possessions, or other material things. It suggests a strong and selfish longing for more than what is needed or deserved, often at the expense of others.
Avars is a term that refers to a nomadic people who, from the 6th to the 9th century, established a powerful empire in central Europe, stretching from the Carpathian Mountains to the Danube River. They were initially of Turkic origin and are known for their military prowess, particularly in horseback warfare. The Avars played a significant role in the political landscape of early medieval Europe, influencing the formation of several kingdoms and engaging in numerous conflicts with neighboring tribes and empires, such as the Byzantine Empire and the Frankish Empire. Their society was characterized by a rigid hierarchical structure, with the khagan (ruler) at the top. The Avar Empire eventually declined and was assimilated into surrounding cultures, leaving limited traces in modern-day Central European nations.
Avarua is the capital and largest city of the Cook Islands, an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. It is located on the main island, Rarotonga. The name "Avarua" means "two waters" in the Cook Islands Maori language, referring to the harbor formed by the intersection of two lagoons.
Avascular refers to a lack of blood vessels or the absence of a blood supply in a particular area or tissue. It means that nutrients and oxygen cannot be transported to or from that area through the bloodstream, which can have significant implications for the function and survival of the affected cells. In medical contexts, avascular necrosis, for example, occurs when an area of bone loses its blood supply, leading to bone cell death.
"Avast" is an informal expression used to signal a sudden stop or warning, often associated with pirate slang. It comes from the nautical term "abandon ast," which means "stop" or "stand still," and was used as a command on sailing ships to halt a particular action or movement. In modern usage, it is commonly heard in humorous or fictional contexts involving pirates.
Avastin is a medication used to treat various types of cancer and wet age-related macular degeneration, an eye condition that can lead to vision loss. It works by inhibiting the growth of blood vessels that supply tumors, thereby starving them of nutrients and oxygen. Avastin is a brand name for the drug bevacizumab.
Astraviruses are a group of small, positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses that belong to the family Picornaviridae. They primarily infect animals, particularly pigs and birds, causing various gastrointestinal diseases. Astraviruses have been identified in several species, including swine, poultry, and wild birds, but they generally do not cause severe illness in humans. Research on these viruses is limited, and their impact on animal health and agriculture is still being studied.