transcription, транскрипция: [ ˌī-ə-ˈtō-lə, -ˈtä-, -ˈtə-, ˈī-ə-ˌ ]
noun
Etymology: Persian āyatollāh, literally, sign of God, from Arabic āyatallāh, from āya sign, miracle + allāh God
Date: 1950
: a religious leader among Shiite Muslims — used as a title of respect especially for one who is not an imam