ZEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Zen mean? 

• ZEN (noun)
  The noun ZEN has 3 senses:

1. school of Mahayana Buddhism asserting that enlightenment can come through meditation and intuition rather than faith; China and Japan

2. a Buddhist doctrine that enlightenment can be attained through direct intuitive insight

3. street name for lysergic acid diethylamide

  Familiarity information: ZEN used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ZEN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

School of Mahayana Buddhism asserting that enlightenment can come through meditation and intuition rather than faith; China and Japan

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

Zen; Zen Buddhism

Hypernyms ("Zen" is a kind of...):

Buddhism (a religion represented by the many groups (especially in Asia) that profess various forms of the Buddhist doctrine and that venerate Buddha)

Meronyms (members of "Zen"):

Zen Buddhist (an adherent of the doctrines of Zen Buddhism)

Derivation:

Zen Buddhist (an adherent of the doctrines of Zen Buddhism)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A Buddhist doctrine that enlightenment can be attained through direct intuitive insight

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

Zen; Zen Buddhism

Hypernyms ("Zen" is a kind of...):

Buddhism (the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering and rebirth)

Domain member category:

satori ((Zen Buddhism) a state of sudden spiritual enlightenment)

Derivation:

Zen Buddhist (an adherent of the doctrines of Zen Buddhism)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Street name for lysergic acid diethylamide

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

acid; back breaker; battery-acid; dose; dot; Elvis; loony toons; Lucy in the sky with diamonds; pane; superman; window pane; Zen

Hypernyms ("Zen" is a kind of...):

LSD; lysergic acid diethylamide (a powerful hallucinogenic drug manufactured from lysergic acid)