buddha
n. countablen. a person who has reached a state of perfect peace and wisdom. It usually refers to the historical teacher who started Buddhism, but it can also mean anyone who has reached enlightenment.
n. a title given to the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, or to any individual who has achieved a state of perfect spiritual enlightenment. When referring to the historical figure, it is treated as a proper name and capitalised.
The statue of the Buddha sat peacefully in the garden.
Many people visit the temple to meditate in front of the golden Buddha and find inner peace.
While the historical Buddha taught in ancient India, the philosophical concept of a buddha suggests that any sentient being possesses the inherent potential to awaken and transcend the cycle of suffering.
Learned borrowing from Pali Buddha (“the Awakened One, the Enlightened One”), from buddha (“awakened, enlightened”), from Sanskrit बुद्ध (buddha, “awakened, enlightened”), past participle of बोधति (bodhati, “to wake, to awaken”). Distantly related to English bid and bede. Also cognate with Proto-Slavic *buditi (“to wake up”).
Capitalised when referring to the historical figure Siddhartha Gautama; lowercase when referring to the general concept of an enlightened being.