Ma·ya (mä y )n. pl. Maya or Ma·yas 1. a. A member of a Mesoamerican Indian people inhabiting southeast Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, whose civilization reached its height around a.d. 300-900. The Maya are noted for their architecture and city planning, their mathematics and calendar, and their hieroglyphic writing system. b. A modern-day descendant of this people. 2. Any of the Mayan languages, especially Quiché and Yucatec. [Spanish.] Ma ya adj. |
| ma·ya (mäy) n. Hinduism 1. The power of a god or demon to transform a concept into an element of the sensible world. 2. The transitory, manifold appearance of the sensible world, which obscures the undifferentiated spiritual reality from which it originates; the illusory appearance of the sensible world. [Sanskrit m  y.] |
maya [ˈmaɪə ˈmɑːjə ˈmɑːjɑː]
n
(Non-Christian Religions / Hinduism) Hinduism illusion, esp the material world of the senses regarded as illusory
[from Sanskrit]
mayan adj
Maya1
n
(Non-Christian Religions / Hinduism) the Hindu goddess of illusion, the personification of the idea that the material world is illusory
Mayan adj
Maya2
n
1. (Social Science / Peoples) pl -ya, -yas 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. (Linguistics / Languages) the language of this people See also Mayan
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  Maya - a member of an American Indian people of Yucatan and Belize and Guatemala who had a culture (which reached its peak between AD 300 and 900) characterized by outstanding architecture and pottery and astronomy; "Mayans had a system of writing and an accurate calendar"federation of tribes, tribe - a federation (as of American Indians) American Indian, Indian, Red Indian - a member of the race of people living in America when Europeans arrived Cakchiquel - a member of the Mayan people living in south central Guatemala Kekchi - a member of a Mayan people of north central Guatemala Mam - a member of a Mayan people of southwestern Guatemala Quiche - a member of the Mayan people of south central Guatemala |
| 2. | Maya - a family of American Indian languages spoken by Maya American-Indian language, Amerind, Amerindian language, American Indian, Indian - any of the languages spoken by Amerindians Kekchi - a Mayan language spoken by the Kekchi Mam - a Mayan language spoken by the Mam Quiche - the Mayan language spoken by the Quiche Cakchiquel - the Mayan language spoken by the Cakchiquel |
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