stupa

noun

stu·​pa ˈstü-pə How to pronounce stupa (audio)
: a usually dome-shaped structure (such as a mound) serving as a Buddhist shrine

Illustration of stupa

Illustration of stupa

Examples of stupa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The stupa, a Buddhist structure, is one of the oldest forms of sacred architecture on Earth. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 18 Oct. 2024 But in 2022, Chilean engineers built similar ice stupa prototypes in the Andes. Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Jan. 2024 All around me, amid a handful of stupas and temples, were the flattened foundations of buildings in the religious complex. Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023 The exhibit fans out around a structure that replicates the form of a Buddhist stupa. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for stupa 

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit stūpa

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stupa was in 1841

Dictionary Entries Near stupa

Cite this Entry

“Stupa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stupa. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on stupa

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!