ʿulama

or u·le·ma

[oo-luh-mah]

plural noun Islam.

the doctors of Muslim religion and law.

Origin of ʿulama

First recorded in 1680–90, ʿulama is from the Arabic word ʿulamā learned men

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ulama

Historical Examples of ulama

Within four years they had broken up the power of the Ulama.
The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 9
Various
The Ulama had persecuted his father and driven him into exile.
The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 9
Various
No doubt Abul Fazl did his best to make the Ulama uncomfortable.
The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 9
Various
Meantime, Ulama, as she had called herself, had been addressing the soldiers.
The Devil-Tree of El Dorado
Frank Aubrey
“A great-great-great-grandson of the great Mellenda,” put in Ulama.
The Devil-Tree of El Dorado
Frank Aubrey

British Dictionary definitions for ulama

ulama

ulema

noun

a body of Muslim scholars or religious leaders

a member of this body

Word Origin for ulama

C17: from Arabic `ulamā scholars, from `alama to know

ulama

noun

a Meso-American team ball game, with a history dating back to as early as 1500 bc, played with a solid rubber ball on a long narrow court

Word Origin for ulama

from Nahuatl Ullamalitztli ball game

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