[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/sutra/)

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# sutra

noun (a sutra, sutras)

«sutra» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (religion) A sutra is a holy teaching or text in Buddhism or Hinduism, often a sermon of the Buddha or short wise sayings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sutra/#m1)
2. In Hindu learning a sutra can also be a short rule or saying that is easy to remember. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sutra/#m2)

### In the lessons

Used in religious education lessons about Buddhism and Hinduism: monks chant sutras; famous ones are the Lotus Sutra and the Heart Sutra; it tells the reader about sacred writings.

### Examples

- The monks chanted a sutra in the temple. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sutra/#x1)
- Buddhists believe the sutras record the Buddha's teachings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sutra/#x2)
- The Heart Sutra is very short. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sutra/#x3)
- We learned that «sutra» comes from a Sanskrit word meaning thread. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sutra/#x4)
- Each sutra was copied by hand onto palm leaves. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sutra/#x5)

### Note

Comes from Sanskrit (an old language of India), meaning «thread». Countable: sutras. Say it «SOO-truh». Speak of beliefs respectfully: «Buddhists believe…».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sutra» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sutra/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sutra» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sutra.html) on Mova free.