# Alma

/ˈɑɫmə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alma
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. astronomy telescope

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

Stands for Atacama Large Millimeter Array. It is a very large and powerful telescope located in the desert in Chile.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Atacama Large Millimeter Array. An astronomical interferometer of radio telescopes in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, used to study the building blocks of stars and planets.

- Scientists used ALMA to take clear pictures of dust around a young star.
- Data collected by ALMA has provided unprecedented insights into the cold gas clouds where new planetary systems are currently forming.

Usage: Often written in all capital letters as an acronym.

### 2. Egyptian entertainer

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

A professional female singer or dancer in Egypt who performs at parties or funerals.

For teachers: A class of Egyptian female entertainers, specifically professional singers and dancers who performed for female audiences or at public ceremonies.

- The old book described an alma performing a traditional dance at the palace.
- Nineteenth-century travelogues frequently romanticized the role of the alma in Egyptian social life, often conflating their musical skills with other forms of entertainment.

Teaching tip: This term is largely historical and rarely encountered in modern daily conversation outside of literature or history.

### 3. female name

noun · CEFR A2

A common traditional name for a girl or woman.

For teachers: A female given name, derived from the Latin 'almus', meaning nourishing or kind.

- My grandmother's name was Alma, which was very popular a hundred years ago.
- The name Alma saw a significant surge in popularity during the Victorian era before becoming less common in the mid-twentieth century.

## Examples

- She returned to her alma mater to give a speech.
- The alumni association invited former students back to their alma mater for the fiftieth anniversary celebration.
- While the term technically refers to the institution itself, many graduates feel a deep emotional connection to their alma mater, viewing it as the intellectual cradle of their professional lives.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.