Mihrab
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A niche in a mosque that indicates the qibla (direction of Mecca), and into which the imam prays.
"Certainly there are nagging undertones of regret to the greatest of the Islamic monuments of Spain, the Great Mosque of Córdoba, for now that its mihrab has been demoted to be a mere curiosity, […]."
- 2 (Islam) a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of Mecca wordnet
- 3 A design in a Muslim prayer mat with the same function.
- 4 (Islam) a design in the shape of niche in a Muslim prayer rug; during worship the niche must be pointed toward Mecca wordnet
Example
More examples"Certainly there are nagging undertones of regret to the greatest of the Islamic monuments of Spain, the Great Mosque of Córdoba, for now that its mihrab has been demoted to be a mere curiosity, […]."
Etymology
Borrowed from Arabic مِحْرَاب (miḥrāb).