An Egyptian singer or dancing-girl employed for entertainment or as a professional mourner.
"The ancient text describes how an alma would dance and sing to comfort the grieving family of the deceased pharaoh."
In plain English: Alma is your soul, which represents who you really are inside and what makes you feel alive.
"She poured her heart and soul into caring for her alma mater after graduation."
Usage: This term refers to an ancient Egyptian female entertainer who performed music, dance, and mourning rituals; it is not used in modern English contexts outside of historical discussions about Egyptology. Avoid applying this specific definition when referring to the Spanish word for "soul" or any contemporary professional singer.
A female given name from Latin, popular in the 19th century.
"The astronomers are waiting in line to use alma for their upcoming observations of distant galaxies."
Non-standard capitalisation of ALMA (Acronym of Atacama Large Millimeter Array.)
The word "alma" comes from the colloquial Arabic term for "singer," which was originally an adjective describing someone who is learned or knowledgeable. It entered English with this musical meaning rather than retaining its original sense of being educated.