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mullah

American  
[muhl-uh, mool-uh, moo-luh] / ˈmʌl ə, ˈmʊl ə, ˈmu lə /
Also mulla,

noun

  1. (in Islamic countries) a title of respect for a person who is learned in, teaches, or expounds the sacred law.

  2. (in Turkey) a provincial judge.


mullah British  
/ ˈmʌlə, ˈmʊlə, ˈmɒlə /

noun

  1. (formerly) a Muslim scholar, teacher, or religious leader: also used as a title of respect

"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

Etymology

Origin of mullah

1605–15; < Persian or Urdu mullā < Arabic mawlā; see maulvi

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:

A cartoon in the Chicago Tribune portrayed Mr. Civiletti addressing the International Court of Justice while an Iranian mullah rips away at his trousers.

From Washington Post Oct. 18, 2022

He also defended his actually making a personal call with a Taliban mullah, which was noted as having previously been “unthinkable” in media reports at the time.

From Washington Times Sep. 22, 2022

Soon after, the mullah, loud and angry, came over the mosque loudspeaker.

From Seattle Times Dec. 29, 2021

Pitiless, grainy close-ups capture him sipping tea with a mother and child — perhaps his brother’s family — in a blank apartment and, later, alongside a mullah in a mosque.

From New York Times Nov. 18, 2021

The mullah questioned the witnesses and read from the Koran.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

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