A form a being takes to appear in a world not its own. A descent into visible shape, chosen rather than native.
Sanskrit avatara (descent), from ava- (down) + tarati (to cross over); the descent of a deity into a visible body, later extended to any chosen form a being takes to appear in a world not its own.
A form a being takes to appear in a world not its own, a descent into visible shape chosen rather than native.