lama

noun la·ma \ ˈlä-mə \

Definition of lama

: a Lamaist monk

See lama defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of lama from the Web

But with the help of the lamas in a Buddhist monastery deep in the Himalayas, the duo overcome their wartime fears and find inner peace.

— pooja makhijani, The Atlantic, "What a Forgotten Kids' Book Reveals About U.S. Publishing," 3 Oct. 2017
Bogle found a medieval Buddhist land ruled by a Druk Desi (a prime minister) and by a hereditary lama known as the Zhabdrung Rinpoche—who could be reincarnated as three separate entities.

— lawrence osborne, Town & Country, "Why Everyone Is Traveling to Bhutan," 30 Mar. 2015
Atop a hill, a growling chain saw drowned out loudspeakers broadcasting a lama’s chants from a nearby temple.

— edward wong, New York Times, "China Takes a Chain Saw to a Center of Tibetan Buddhism," 28 Nov. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lama.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.