sutra

[soo-truh] /ˈsu trə/

noun

Hinduism. a collection of aphorisms relating to some aspect of the conduct of life.

Pali sutta

[soo t-uh] /ˈsʊt ə/ (Show IPA). Buddhism. any of the sermons of Buddha.

one of the approximately 4000 rules or aphorisms that constitute Panini's grammar of Sanskrit.

Origin

1795-1805; < Sanskrit sūtra

British Dictionary definitions for sutra

sutra

/ˈsuːtrə/

noun

(Hinduism) Sanskrit sayings or collections of sayings on Vedic doctrine dating from about 200 ad onwards

(modifier) (Hinduism)

of or relating to the last of the Vedic literary periods, from about 500 to 100 bc: the sutra period
of or relating to the sutras or compilations of sutras of about 200 ad onwards

(Buddhism) collections of dialogues and discourses of classic Mahayana Buddhism dating from the 2nd to the 6th centuries a.d

Word Origin

C19: from Sanskrit: list of rules

Word Origin and History for sutra

Sutra

"series of aphorisms," 1801, from Sanskrit sutram "rule," literally "string, thread" (as a measure of straightness), from sivyati "sew;" cognate with Latin suere "to sew" (see sew). Applied to rules of grammar, law, philosophy, etc., along with their commentaries.