בָּמָה, entrance, gathering place, ascent (cmp. b. h. מָבוֹא a. מַעֲלֶה); esp. Bamah, name of the legitimate altars prior to, and of the illegitimate after, the establishment of a central sanctuary (at Shiloh) and of the Temple at Jerusalem; temporary or improvised altar; v. Zeb. XIV, 4—8.—Meg. I, 10 ב׳ גדולה national altar; ב׳ קטנה local altar (during their period of legitimacy); Tosef. Zeb. XIII, 17 sq.; a. fr.—Pl. בָּמוֹת Zeb. l. c. Ib. 114ᵇ בשעת היתר הב׳ at the period when bamoth were permitted. v. supra; a. fr. [Meg. 32ᵃ הלוחות והב׳, v. בִּימָה.] Cmp. בִּימָה.