name · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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shēʹvə
/ˈʃiːvə/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
shĭʹvə
/ˈʃɪvə/
rhymes with -iːvə
rhymes with -ɪvə
US:/ˈʃɪvə/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
homophone: shiver (non-rhotic)
CMU ARPABET:SH IY1 V AH0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
name
Meaning 1
The god of destruction and transformation, and together with Brahma and Vishnu, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. Within Shaivism he is viewed as the Supreme deity, whereas in other branches of Hinduism such as the Smarta tradition he is worshipped as one of the six manifestations of the Divine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Hinduism
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
name
Meaning 2
A male given name from Sanskrit used in India.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A weeklong period of formal mourning for a close relative.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Judaism, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
the destroyer; one of the three major divinities in the later Hindu pantheon
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Siva
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: Hindu deity
Narrower terms: Bairava
5
noun
Meaning 5
(Judaism) a period of seven days of mourning after the death of close relative
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the family is sitting shiva
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: shivah, shibah
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: week, hebdomad
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Sanskrit शिव (śivá, “the auspicious one”).
From Hebrew שִׁבְעָה (shiv'á, “seven”), referring to the number of days that shiva spans.
Across languages
Translations
95 source translations are retained for this English entry.
