buddha

IPA/ˈbʊdə/
KK[bˈudə]IPA/ˈbuːdə/

buddha — noun

  • buddhasingular
  • buddhasplural

1. the title used for Siddhartha Gautama, whose teaching became the basis of Buddhi

1.nounB2
Definition

the title used for Siddhartha Gautama, whose teaching became the basis of Buddhism

Example

The guide said the Buddha began teaching after years of deep meditation.

the Buddha + began teaching

Sari read a children's book about the Buddha under a mango tree.

about the Buddha

Common collocations
  • the Buddha
  • the Buddha's teachings
  • life of the Buddha
  • follow the Buddha
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

the Buddha

the Buddha's teachings

about the Buddha

Usage Note

Usually written with a capital letter and most often used with the article 'the' when referring to Siddhartha Gautama. Distinguish this sense from sense 2, which names a statue or image, and sense 3, which refers to any fully enlightened being in Buddhist belief.

Common Mistakes

Buddha is the religion followed by my grandparents.
Buddhism is the religion followed by my grandparents.
'Buddha' names the person or title; 'Buddhism' names the religion.
There were stories about a buddha in the textbook.
There were stories about the Buddha in the textbook.
This sense usually refers to the historical figure or title, so it is commonly capitalized and used with 'the'.

2. a picture or statue that shows the Buddha

2.nounB2
Definition

a picture or statue that shows the Buddha

Example

Noor placed a small buddha on the shelf beside her travel books.

a small buddha + on the shelf

A bronze buddha stood near the temple gate, covered with rain.

material adjective + buddha

Common collocations
  • bronze buddha
  • wooden buddha
  • giant buddha
  • seated buddha
  • buddha figure
Synonyms
  • statue

    a general word for a carved or cast figure, not necessarily religious

  • figure

    broader and less specific; can describe many kinds of shaped object

  • idol

    often implies an object of worship and can sound negative in some contexts

  • icon

    often refers to a sacred image, especially a painted one

Grammar Patterns

a bronze buddha

a wooden buddha

a buddha in [place]

Usage Note

This sense refers to the object, not the religious founder himself. It is common in travel, art, and home-decoration contexts, often with words naming the material or size of the image.

Common Mistakes

The hall was lined with several Buddha.
The hall was lined with several buddhas.
In this sense, 'buddha' is a common countable noun and takes a normal plural form.
The shop sold a beautiful Buddha religion figure.
The shop sold a beautiful buddha figure.
Use 'buddha' for the image itself, not 'Buddha religion' before the noun.

3. someone in Buddhism who reaches complete spiritual awakening

3.nounC1
Definition

someone in Buddhism who reaches complete spiritual awakening

Example

The old monk taught that kindness and wisdom can lead to becoming a buddha.

becoming a buddha

In the story, the prince leaves home and later becomes a buddha.

[person] becomes a buddha

Common collocations
  • become a buddha
  • attain buddhahood
  • a buddha's wisdom
Synonyms
  • awakened one

    a close explanatory phrase that stresses spiritual awakening

  • enlightened being

    a broad descriptive phrase for someone who has reached enlightenment

  • arahant

    a Buddhist term for a liberated person, though not always identical to a buddha

Grammar Patterns

become a buddha

a buddha has [quality]

not every [person] is a buddha

Usage Note

Used mainly in Buddhist discussion or formal explanation, not for an ordinary calm or wise person. Distinguish it from 'Buddhist', which means someone who follows Buddhism rather than someone who has reached full enlightenment.

Common Mistakes

Every Buddhist monk is a buddha.
Not every Buddhist monk is a buddha.
A buddha is a fully enlightened being, not simply any monk or follower of Buddhism.
She became Buddhist after years of meditation.
She became a Buddhist after years of meditation.
'Buddhist' names a follower of the religion; this sense of 'buddha' refers to the state of full enlightenment.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

For sense 2, buddha refers to a specific kind of religious image showing the Buddha. Statue is the broad everyday word for any carved or cast human or animal figure, so every buddha can be a statue, but not every statue is a buddha. Idol often suggests an object that people worship directly, and in some contexts it may sound critical or old-fashioned. Figure is even broader and can refer to a small model, toy, or shaped object, not only a sacred image. Icon often points to a holy image, especially in painting, rather than a free-standing object. For example, a traveler may buy a small buddha at a market, while a museum label may simply call the same object a statue.

statue ↗idol ↗figure ↗icon ↗

Etymology

SanskritEnglish

Buddha comes from Sanskrit buddha, meaning 'awakened' or 'enlightened'. It is related to the Sanskrit verb budh-, 'to wake up, notice, or understand'. English first used the word for Siddhartha Gautama and later extended it to images of him and to any being who reaches full enlightenment in Buddhist teaching.

First known use

1681

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1