hero

Meaning

1. Somebody who possesses great bravery and carries out extraordinary or noble deeds.
2. A role model.
3. The protagonist in a work of fiction.
4. The current player, especially an hypothetical player for example and didactic purposes. Compare: villain (“any opponent player”). Not to be confused with hero call (“a weak call against a supposed bluff”).
5. A large sandwich made from meats and cheeses; a hero sandwich.
6. The product chosen from several candidates to be photographed, as in food advertising, or with props used in a movie.
7. The eye-catching top portion of a web page, sometimes including a hero image; the portion above the fold.

Hyphenated as

he‧ro

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhɪə.ɹəʊ/

Etymology

From Middle English heroes, from Old French heroes, from Latin hērōs (“hero”), from Ancient Greek ἥρως (hḗrōs, “demi-god, hero”), from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to watch over, protect”). Related to Latin servo (“protect”). Displaced Middle English heleð, haleð, from Old English hæleþ, hæle.