1. A ritual bath used in Jewish practice for purification purposes, especially by women after menstruation and before marriage, and by converts to Judaism.
Usage: Also spelled 'mikva' or 'mikwah'; From Hebrew; Religious/cultural term

Examples

• The synagogue has a mikvah in its basement for members to use.
• Before her wedding, the bride visited the mikvah as part of Jewish tradition.
• A mikvah must contain a specific amount of natural water to be considered valid.
• The community built a new mikvah to serve the growing congregation.
• Immersion in the mikvah is an important ritual in Jewish law.