stupa

noun stu·pa \ ˈstü-pə \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Definition of stupa

: a usually dome-shaped structure (such as a mound) serving as a Buddhist shrine

Recent Examples of stupa from the Web

The earthquake destroyed the church in Shilaprabat, and it was rebuilt near a Hindu stupa that still bears the signs of the disaster, with its steeple standing askew at a 30 degree angle.

— rojita adhikari, CNN, "Pro-life activists target rural Nepali women," 8 June 2018
The stupa is believed to mark the spot where Buddha preached his sermon at Deer Park.

— antonia neubauer, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Asia," 5 Oct. 2016
Throngs of worshipers sat on the earth around the bleach-white stupa, a large dome that represents the earth’s elements and is used as a place of meditation.

— maria abi-habib, New York Times, "How to Celebrate Buddha in Sri Lanka? Stop Partying, Some Say," 2 May 2018
The Archaeological Survey of India is tasked with conserving and protecting the country’s historical treasures, such as these Buddhist temples and stupas in Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh.

— vidhi doshi, Washington Post, "India is on the hunt for 24 ‘untraceable’ historical treasures," 13 Jan. 2018
Bi Ma places some pine sprigs in the fireplace of a stupa—a Buddhist shrine—and sets them alight.

— jason motlagh, Marie Claire, "Kingdom of Women," 18 Jan. 2018
And within just one valley, the team found a variety of religious buildings, including Buddhist stupas, Zoroastrian fire temples, and Hellenistic sanctuaries with both Greek and Aramaic characters written on stone slabs.

— andrew lawler, Science | AAAS, "Spy satellites are revealing Afghanistan’s lost empires," 13 Dec. 2017
Monks, nuns and laypeople go through their daily practices on a day during the December full moon festival at the Ruwanwelisaya stupa in the town of Anuradhapura.

— roger catlin, Smithsonian, "New Sackler Buddhist Exhibition Doubles the Immersive Experiences," 4 Oct. 2017
And there are new additions to the collection on view for the first time such as a bell from Indonesia in the shape of a stupa.

— roger catlin, Smithsonian, "New Sackler Buddhist Exhibition Doubles the Immersive Experiences," 4 Oct. 2017

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