noun
lama
LAH-muh
noun
1
A senior teacher or spiritual master in Tibetan Buddhism.
"Monks travel long distances to study under a respected lama."
How to Use Lama
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA Tibetan Buddhist teacher or spiritual leader, similar to how "guru" is used in other traditions.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "llama," the South American pack animal — same sound, unrelated word and spelling.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
lamas plural, lamas plural, Lamas plural
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Monks travel long distances to study under a respected _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from Tibetan bla ma, meaning "superior" or "master."