mantra

SYLLABICATION:	man·tra
PRONUNCIATION:	AUDIO: mntr, mn-     KEY
NOUN:	1. Hinduism A sacred verbal formula repeated in prayer, meditation, or incantation, such as an invocation of a god, a magic spell, or a syllable or portion of scripture containing mystical potentialities. 2. A commonly repeated word or phrase: “Today's edutainment software comes shrinkwrapped in the magic mantra: ‘makes learning fun.’” (Clifford Stoll, New York Times May 19, 1996).
ETYMOLOGY:	Sanskrit mantra. See men-^1 in Appendix I.
OTHER FORMS:	mantric —ADJECTIVE