shiva

or shi·vah

[ shiv-uh ]

noun
  1. the traditional seven-day period of mourning observed by Jews immediately following the funeral of a parent, sibling, child, or spouse.

Idioms about shiva

  1. sit shiva, to observe this period.

Origin of shiva

1
First recorded in 1890–95; from Ashkenazi pronunciation of Hebrew shibhʿāh “seven”
  • Also shi·bah .

Other definitions for Shiva (2 of 2)

Shiva
[ shee-vuh ]

nounHinduism.
  1. “the Destroyer,” the third member of the Trimurti, along with Brahma the Creator and Vishnu the Preserver.

Origin of Shiva

2
From Sanskrit: literally, “the auspicious”
  • Also Si·va [see-vuh, shee-vuh] /ˈsi və, ˈʃi və/ .

Other words from Shiva

  • Shi·va·ism, noun
  • Shi·va·ist, noun
  • Shi·va·is·tic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use shiva in a sentence

  • All the Brahmas and Shivas of the eternal universe are embraced by the term 'eternal rulers of spheres' (chira-loka-pla).

    Chaitanya's Life And Teachings | Krishna das Kaviraja

British Dictionary definitions for Shiva

Shiva

/ (ˈʃiːvə, ˈʃɪvə) /


noun
  1. a variant spelling of Siva

Derived forms of Shiva

  • Shivaism, noun
  • Shivaist, noun, adjective

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