/av"euh tahr', av'euh tahr"/ , n.
1. Hindu Myth. the descent of a deity to the earth in an incarnate form or some manifest shape; the incarnation of a god.
2. an embodiment or personification, as of a principle, attitude, or view of life.
3. Computers. a graphical image that represents a person, as on the Internet.
[ 1775-85; avatara a passing down, equiv. to ava down + -tara a passing over ]