koan
noun
a nonsensical or paradoxical question to a student for which an answer is demanded, the stress of meditation on the question often being illuminating.
koans
-
pluralof koan.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the best of them, when you really turn them over, are as profound as Zen koans: “If you can’t imitate him, don’t copy him.”
From New York Times ● May 11, 2023
Most of those vibes emanate from the company’s affable, Zen-minded CEO, Phil Knight, a wearer of track suits and spouter of Buddhist koans played by Affleck himself as the risk-averse yin to Sonny’s reckless yang.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2023
The instructions in “Grapefruit” are like koans, those aids to meditation used by Zen Buddhists to break down the resistance of human reason to a deeper, fuller awareness.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 23, 2022
This, on the fourth song, “Under the Table,” was where the album really opened up for me: jazz koans meet protest chants meet children’s song sweetness.
From New York Times ● Apr. 17, 2020
Hackers are very fond of the koan form and compose their own koans for humororous and/or enlightening effect.
From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Guy L. Steele
