n.
Pronunciation: i- ' mäm, ē - ' , - ' mam
Function: noun
Usage: often cap
Etymology: Arabic im ā m
Date: 1613
1 : the prayer leader of a mosque
2 : a Muslim leader of the line of Ali held by Shiites to be the divinely appointed, sinless, infallible successors of Muhammad
3 : any of various rulers that claim descent from Muhammad and exercise spiritual and temporal leadership over a Muslim region