I. ˈmä(ˌ)yä, ˈmäyə, ˈmī(ˌ)ä, -īə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Sanskrit māyā
1. : an extraphysical wonder-working power in the Vedas
2.
a. : the illusion-creating power of a god or demon
b. : the powerful force that creates the cosmic illusion that the phenomenal world is real ; broadly : magic , illusion
II. ˈmī(y)ə sometimes ˈmäyə or ˈmā(y)ə noun
( plural maya or mayas )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Spanish
1.
a. : a group of people of Yucatán, British Honduras, northern Guatemala, and the state of Tabasco, Mexico whose language is Mayan
b. : a member of such people
2.
a.
(1) : a Mayan language of the ancient Maya peoples recorded in inscriptions
(2) : yucatec ; especially : the older form of that language known from documents of the Spanish period
b. : a system of writing used by the preconquest Maya peoples
3. : the language of the Maya people
4. : a brownish orange to light brown that is redder and lighter than sorrel, redder than caramel, and very slightly darker and stronger than paloma
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Tagalog
: any of several Philippine weaverbirds of the genus Lonchura
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: American Spanish
: pinguin