peepul

noun

pee·​pul ˈpē-(ˌ)pəl How to pronounce peepul (audio)
variants or peepal or pipal
plural peepuls or peepals or pipals
: a large, long-lived fig tree (Ficus religiosa) with widely spreading branches that is native from India to southeastern Asia and often begins growth as an epiphyte
A breeze blows through three large trees – two peepuls and a neem.Divya Guha
It is said that it was here under a peepal tree that Prince Siddhartha meditated until he attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago and became known as the Buddha – the awakened one.Kencho Wangdi

called also bo tree, bodhi tree, sacred fig

Examples of peepul in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web People don’t tend the peepul for its fruit. Jared Farmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Jan. 2023 Eternal leaf of the peepul tree, not far from Benares and the Ganges, under which a beggar prince dispelled the sorrow and fear of dying. Claudio Magris, Harper's Magazine, 25 May 2021 Down to green river valleys that look like capsule Edens: lush grasslands shaded by peepul trees, rare Kol farmsteads, and trails along which no car in history has ever moved. Paul Salopek, National Geographic, 15 May 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'peepul.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu pīpal, from Sanskrit pippala

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of peepul was in 1783

Dictionary Entries Near peepul

Cite this Entry

“Peepul.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peepul. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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