The image I see ahead (4)
I believe the answer is:
icon
'the image' is the definition.
('icon' can be a synonym of 'image')
'i see ahead' is the wordplay.
'see' becomes 'c' (the word for the letter, according to Chambers).
'ahead' becomes 'on' ('on' can be a synonym of 'ahead').
'i'+'c'+'on'='ICON'
(Other definitions for icon that I've seen before include "Image or representation" , "A good figure" , "Admired figure" , "Superstar" , "Russian religious image" .)