imam

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. In law and theology, the caliph who is successor to Muhammad as the lawful temporal leader of the Islamic community.
2. n. The male prayer leader in a mosque.
3. n. The Muslim worshiper who leads the recitation of prayer when two or more worshipers are present.
4. n. A male spiritual and temporal leader regarded by Shiites as a descendant of Muhammad divinely appointed to guide humans.
5. n. An earthly representative of the 12 such leaders recognized by the majority form of Shiism.
6. n. Islam A ruler claiming descent from Muhammad and exercising authority in an Islamic state.
7. n. Any one of the founders of the four schools of law and theology.
8. n. An authoritative scholar who founds a school of law or theology.
9. n. Islam Used as a title for an imam.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A Mohammedan chief or leader. Specifically The religious title of the four successors of Mohammed, and of the four great doctors of the four orthodox sects; hence, a Mohammedan prince or religious leader: as, the Imam of Muscat.

Wiktionary

1. n. A Shi'ite Muslim leader.
2. n. One who leads the salat prayers in a mosque.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Among the Mohammedans, a minister or priest who performs the regular service of the mosque.
2. n. A Mohammedan prince who, as a successor of Mohammed, unites in his person supreme spiritual and temporal power.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. (Islam) the man who leads prayers in a mosque; for Shiites an imam is a recognized authority on Islamic theology and law and a spiritual guide