Guru

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈɡʊ.ɹuː/, /ˈɡuː.ɹuː/

Alternative forms

• goru 17th-19th c.
• gooroo 19th c.

Origin

From Hindi गुरू
Urdu گرو, from Sanskrit गुरु (gurú, "venerable, respectable"), originally "heavy" and in this sense cognate to English grieve. (A traditional etymology based on the Advaya Taraka Upanishad (line 16)

describes the syllables gu as 'darkness' and ru as 'destroyer', thus meaning "one who destroys/dispels darkness")

Full definition of guru

Noun

1. A Hindu or Sikh spiritual teacher. from 17th c.
• 1817, William Ward, History, Literature and Religion of the Hindoos, vol II:When the gooroo arrives at the house of a disciple, the whole family prostrate themselves at his feet, and the spiritual guide puts his right foot on the heads of the prostrate family.
• 2010, Wendy Shanker, The Guardian, 10 May 2010:Traditionally, a guru is a spiritual teacher who guides a student on the road to Enlightenment, or finding God.
2. (sometimes humorous) An influential advisor or mentor. from 20th c.
• 2004, ‘Vintage technology’, Time, 18 Oct 2004:Many oenophiles rely on the ratings and recommendations of wine guru Robert Parker when selecting the perfect bottle.

Derived terms

• gurukul
• Gurmukhi
• guruship
• Sadguru