golden calf

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

golden calf
    n 1: (Old Testament) an idol made by Aaron for the Israelites to
         worship; destroyed by Moses; it is now used to refer to
         anything worshipped undeservedly

from Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Golden calf
(Ex. 32:4,8; Deut. 9:16; Neh. 9:18). This was a molten image of
a calf which the idolatrous Israelites formed at Sinai. This
symbol was borrowed from the custom of the Egyptians. It was
destroyed at the command of Moses (Ex. 32:20). (See AARON
�T0000002; {MOSES}.)