Definition of "meditation" in English

noun

1. A devotional exercise of, or leading to, contemplation.

2. Any of various types of achieving more or less altered states of consciousness, such as vacancy of mind or prolonged contemplation on a single sensation or thought, through relaxed or focused mental and physical activity generally of a nonstrenuous and non–substance-induced nature.

3. A contemplative discourse, often on a religious or philosophical subject.

   • Her book is less a cookbook than a meditation on the craft of cookery.

4. A musical theme treated in a meditative manner.

5. Careful and thorough thought.

   • deep meditation
   • in meditation
   • He was lost in careful meditation on how best to proceed when a sudden phone call forced him to decide.