maya

¹

[mah-yah, -yuh]

noun

Hinduism.

1. the power, as of a god, to produce illusions.

2. the production of an illusion.

3. (in Vedantic philosophy) the illusion of the reality of sensory experience and of the experienced qualities and attributes of oneself.

4. Also called Mahamaya. (initial capital letter),  a goddess personifying the power that creates phenomena.

Maya

²

[mah-yuh]

noun

plural

Mayas ,

plural

Maya .

1. a member of a major pre-Columbian civilization of the Yucatán Peninsula that reached its peak in the 9th century a.d. and produced magnificent ceremonial cities with pyramids, a sophisticated mathematical and calendar system, hieroglyphic writing, and fine sculpture, painting, and ceramics.

2. a member of a modern Indigenous people of southern Mexico, Guatemala, and parts of Honduras who are the descendants of this ancient civilization.

3. any of the Mayan languages; the historical and modern languages of the Maya.

adjective

1. Mayan.

Maya

¹

/ ˈmaɪə /

noun

1. Also called: Mayan. a member of an American Indian people of Yucatan, Belize, and N Guatemala, having an ancient culture once characterized by outstanding achievements in architecture, astronomy, chronology, painting, and pottery

2. the language of this people See also Mayan

Maya

²

/ ˈmɑːjə, ˈmɑːjɑː, ˈmaɪə /

noun

1. the Hindu goddess of illusion, the personification of the idea that the material world is illusory

maya

³

/ ˈmɑːjə, ˈmaɪə, ˈmɑːjɑː /

noun

1. Hinduism illusion, esp the material world of the senses regarded as illusory

Other Word Forms

• mayan adjective
• Mayan adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of maya¹

Borrowed into English from Sanskrit around 1815–25

Origin of maya²

First recorded in 1810–20; from Spanish, from Yucatec Maya mayab “flat,” a self-designation

Word History and Origins

Origin of maya¹

C19: from Sanskrit

Example Sentences

The series, which is narrated by Maya Hawke, features traditional elements of a nature documentary, but there’s also suspenseful music, jump scares and a narrative structure that you’d expect from a traditional horror movie.

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The main point of discussion before the match was which position Manchester United captain Maya le Tissier should play in.

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It’s a full-blown Gieurlz escape with golf by day, and karaoke-fueled chaos by night in Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

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The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel cited released hostage Maya Regev as saying that Illouz was "kidnapped unconscious and lay alone for a whole week, tied to his bed."

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Her position in the side was no longer certain, with young defenders Maya Le Tissier and Esme Morgan continuing to progress with England, as well as the emergence of fresh WSL talent such as Arsenal's Katie Reid this season.

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