ama

[ah-mah]

noun, plural a·mas, a·ma.

a Japanese diver, usually a woman, who tends underwater oyster beds used in the cultivation of pearls.

Origin of ama

From Japanese, dating back to 1945–50, of uncertain origin

-ama

variant of -orama, occurring as the final element in compounds when the first element is a disyllable ending in -r, used so that the entire word maintains the same number of syllables as panorama: rollerama; Futurama.

A.M.A.

American Management Association.
American Medical Association.
American Motorcycle Association.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for ama

Contemporary Examples of ama

“It's super boring to see people sit around and draw grids all day,” show host Ryan Devlin host explained on a reddit AMA.
I Want to See Your Spreadsheets, Baby: MTV’s ‘Are You the One?’ Is a Mathematical Orgy
Brandy Zadrozny
December 9, 2014
On Monday, Grandin participated in a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA), and the questions were as diverse as her career.
The Most Inspiring Bits of Temple Grandin’s Reddit AMA
Emily Shire
November 18, 2014
The most interesting personal information Grandin shared during the AMA was the sexism she faced during the start of her career.
The Most Inspiring Bits of Temple Grandin’s Reddit AMA
Emily Shire
November 18, 2014
Back in the U.S., the American Medical Association (AMA) disagrees.
Activists Fight Antiquated Policy With National Gay Blood Drive
Janelle Dumalaon
July 11, 2014
It finally happened: George Clooney appeared on Reddit yesterday to have an AMA chat to promote his latest film, Monuments Men.
Best Bits From George Clooney’s Suave And Funny Reddit AMA
Marina Watts
January 29, 2014

Historical Examples of ama

Ahcic ama; “the town on high,” built on some lofty eminence.
The Annals of the Cakchiquels
Daniel G. Brinton
To sit at the feet of Theresa, the ama, is to enter the gate of story land.
Fairy Tales from Brazil
Elsie Spicer Eells
And the great Fénelon took Ama nesciri for his crest and for his motto.
Bunyan Characters - Third Series
Alexander Whyte
“Get in quickly, Dick, and let us be going,” murmured Ama hastily.
A Middy of the Slave Squadron
Harry Collingwood
But, Ama, you speak of ‘we,’ as though you intended to accompany me.
A Middy of the Slave Squadron
Harry Collingwood

British Dictionary definitions for ama

AMA

abbreviation for

American Medical Association
Australian Medical Association

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012