guru

[ goor-oo, goo-roo ]

noun

1. Hinduism. a preceptor giving personal religious instruction.
2. an intellectual or spiritual guide or leader.
3. any person who counsels or advises; mentor:

   The elder senator was her political guru.

4. a leader in a particular field:

   the city's cultural gurus.

guru

/ ˈɡuːruː; ˈɡʊruː /

noun

1. a Hindu or Sikh religious teacher or leader, giving personal spiritual guidance to his disciples
2. derogatory.
   a leader or chief theoretician of a movement, esp a spiritual or religious cult
3. facetious.
   a leading authority in a particular field

   a cricketing guru

guru

1. In Hinduism , a teacher or spiritual leader.

Notes

By extension, a “guru” is a teacher who attracts disciples or followers.

Derived Forms

• ˈguruˌship, noun

Other Words From

• guru·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of guru¹

1820–30; < Hindi gurū < Sanskrit guru venerable, weighty

Word History and Origins

Origin of guru¹

C17: from Hindi gurū, from Sanskrit guruh weighty

Example Sentences

A spokesman for the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

From Seattle Times

Nijjar was shot dead by two masked gunman while sitting in his vehicle in the busy car park of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple in Surrey, British Columbia.

From BBC

Gurus offended him, for life was ultimately an individual conundrum that had to be uniquely met.

From Los Angeles Times

Launched in 2016, the project works with social venture partners TreePlanet and Guru E&T to plant forests around the world, conserving biodiversity and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.

From National Geographic

Sikhs lit candles to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, at the illuminated Golden Temple, in Amritsar, India.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• master
• teacher
• tutor