zen
zen Lexical Profile
zen Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Calm, peaceful, and relaxed; not worried about things that cannot be changed.
"Despite the chaotic schedule at the office, she remained remarkably zen throughout the entire week."
Relating to or characteristic of Zen Buddhism or its minimalist, contemplative aesthetic.
"They designed a Zen garden in the courtyard featuring raked gravel and moss-covered stones."
• noun
A Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition rather than ritual worship or study of scriptures (usually capitalized).
"He spent several years in Kyoto studying the philosophy and meditative practices of Zen."
A state of calm attentiveness in which one's actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort.
"Gardening on Sunday mornings helps him find a sense of zen after a demanding workweek."
• Rhymes for zen
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 18th century from Japanese Zen, from Middle Chinese dzyen (modern Chan), which is an abbreviation of a transliteration of Sanskrit dhyāna, meaning 'meditation' or 'contemplation'.