- (esp in the philosophy of Locke) the mind in its uninformed original state
- an opportunity for a fresh start; clean slate
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ta•bu•la ra•sa
(tab′yə lə rä′sə, -zə, rā′-; Lat. tä′bŏŏ lä′ rä′sä),USA pronunciation pl. ta•bu•lae ra•sae
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(tab′yə lē′ rä′sē, -zē, rā′-; Lat. tä′bŏŏ lī′ rä′sī).USA pronunciation
- Foreign Termsa mind not yet affected by experiences, impressions, etc.
- Foreign Termsanything existing undisturbed in its original pure state.
- Latin tabula rāsa scraped tablet, clean slate
- 1525–35
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
tabula rasa /ˈtæbjʊlə ˈrɑːsə/ n ( pl tabulae rasae /ˈtæbjʊliː ˈrɑːsiː/)