lila
noun
creation, seen as the playful activity of a god.
lila
1 American
[lee-lah]
/ ˈli lɑ /
noun
Hinduism.
Lila
2
American
[lahy-luh]
/ ˈlaɪ lə /
noun
Etymology
Origin of lila
First recorded in 1820–30, lila is from the Sanskrit word līlā play, sport, diversion
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.
See Examples For:
The Sanskrit title derives from two words: turanga, meaning flowing time, movement or rhythm; and lila, or love, sport, the play of the gods.
From Time Magazine Archive
Its origin, however, is Sumerian, from /lila/, regarded as meaning "mist."
From The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria by Theophilus Goldridge Pinches
The /lilu/, in Sumerian /lila/, is generally regarded as "the night-monster," the word being referred to the Semitic root /lîl/ or /layl/, whence the Hebrew /layil/, Arabic /layl/, "night."
From The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria by Theophilus Goldridge Pinches
Now, as I have already said, the great chief of Mbau, Mbanuve, died of the lila, and was thereafter known as Mbale-i-vavalangi—the victim of the foreign disease.
From The Fijians A Study of the Decay of Custom by Basil Thomson
It is not certain that this was the only visitation of the epidemic called lila.
From The Fijians A Study of the Decay of Custom by Basil Thomson
To get Kate Johnson’s perspective, read on here with Lila MacLellan in today’s CEO Brief newsletter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
“He didn’t say he hated Trump,” interjected his wife Lila Trask, 79, who thinks the teacher is sincere.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Staff writer Lila Seidman contributed to this report.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
Lila Pieters Yahia, the UN resident coordinator for Nepal, said drinking water was being airlifted into affected areas.
From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026
It’s where we met Hena, Lila, and Marisol and formed our own little clique.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
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