stupa

stu·pa | \ ˈstü-pə

How to pronounce stupa (audio)

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Definition of stupa

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

Examples of stupa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In Ladakh, that might mean building stupas, small piles of ice that last through dry seasons. — National Geographic, "The world's supply of fresh water is in trouble as mountain ice vanishes," 9 Dec. 2019 In March, the photographer Vasantha Yogananthan travelled to the remote mountainous territory of Ladakh, in northern India, to investigate an idiosyncratic solution to the erratic supply of water in the high-desert region: the ice stupa. — The New Yorker, "The Best New Yorker Photography of 2019," 15 Dec. 2019 Join nuns and monks in a walking meditation around Bodnath Stupa, the largest stupa in Asia; visit a hilltop temple complex teeming with monkeys; and experience a Hindu ceremony on the banks of the Bagmati River. — National Geographic, "Nepal Community Service: Sustainable Development and Rural Livelihoods," 10 Sep. 2019 Visit a Hindu temple teeming with monkeys, join Tibetan Buddhist nuns and monks in a walking meditation around Asia’s largest stupa, and experience a Hindu ceremony on the banks of the Bagmati River. — National Geographic, "Nepal High School Community Service," 12 June 2019 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

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.

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Last Updated

1 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Stupa.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stupa. Accessed 18 January 2020.

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