maya

¹

[ mah-yah, -yuh ]

noun

, Hinduism.

1. the power, as of a god, to produce illusions.
2. the production of an illusion.
3. (in Vedantic philosophy) the illusion of the reality of sensory experience and of the experienced qualities and attributes of oneself.
4. (initial capital letter) Also called Mahamaya. a goddess personifying the power that creates phenomena.

Maya

²

[ mah-yuh ]

noun

, plural Ma·yas, (especially collectively) Ma·ya.

1. a member of a major pre-Columbian civilization of the Yucatán Peninsula that reached its peak in the 9th century a.d. and produced magnificent ceremonial cities with pyramids, a sophisticated mathematical and calendar system, hieroglyphic writing, and fine sculpture, painting, and ceramics.
2. a member of a modern Indigenous people of southern Mexico, Guatemala, and parts of Honduras who are the descendants of this ancient civilization.
3. any of the Mayan languages; the historical and modern languages of the Maya.

adjective

1. Mayan.

Maya

¹

/ ˈmaɪə /

noun

1. Also calledMayan -ya-yas 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. the language of this people See also Mayan

maya

²

/ ˈmɑːjə; ˈmaɪə; ˈmɑːjɑː /

noun

1. Hinduism illusion, esp the material world of the senses regarded as illusory

Maya

³

/ ˈmɑːjə; ˈmɑːjɑː; ˈmaɪə /

noun

1. the Hindu goddess of illusion, the personification of the idea that the material world is illusory

Derived Forms

• ˈmayan, adjective
• ˈMayan, adjective

Other Words From

• mayan adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of maya¹

Borrowed into English from Sanskrit around 1815–25

Origin of maya²

First recorded in 1810–20; from Spanish, from Yucatec Maya mayab “flat,” a self-designation

Word History and Origins

Origin of maya¹

C19: from Sanskrit

Example Sentences

Maya Salam is an editor and reporter, focusing primarily on pop culture across genres.

From New York Times

Once again, we’re in the head of Riley, whose interior console needs to make room for new emotions, voiced by Maya Hawke, Ayo Edebiri and Adèle Exarchopoulos.

From Los Angeles Times

Depending on whom you ask, Chanel Maya Banks either is a missing person who may be in danger or hurt, or has been located and is safe.

From Los Angeles Times

Some trends that may be contributing to these changes in Mayan family interaction include declining use of the Indigenous Maya language and cultural practices and growing involvement with Western schooling and digital technology.

From Science Daily

The Maya were an ancient people who lived in what is now Southern Mexico and Central America over 1,000 years ago.

From NewsForKids.net