[ 'ʊləmə , 'u:lɪmə , ˌu:lə'mα: ]
(also ulama )
■ noun
1》 [treated as sing. or plural ] a body of Muslim scholars recognized as expert in Islamic sacred law and theology.
2》 a member of such a body.
Origin
from Arab. ῾ulamā' , plural of ῾ālim 'learned', from ῾alima 'know'.