# lama

/ˈɫɑmə/ (US) · /lˈɑːmɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. Buddhist teacher

noun · CEFR B2

a spiritual leader or teacher in Tibetan Buddhism.

For teachers: a title for a teacher of the Dharma in Tibetan Buddhism, similar to the Sanskrit term 'guru'.

- The local lama gave a talk about the importance of daily meditation.
- The community sought guidance from a senior lama regarding the construction of the new monastery and the preservation of sacred texts.

## Examples

- The lama spent many hours in silent meditation.
- After years of study at the monastery, he was finally recognized as a lama by his community.
- The visiting lama delivered a profound lecture on the nature of compassion, drawing hundreds of practitioners from across the region to the small mountain temple.

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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.