Dalai Lama

American

[dah-lahy lah-muh] / ˈdɑ laɪ ˈlɑ mə /

noun

(formerly) the ruler and chief monk of Tibet, believed to be a reincarnation of Avalokitesvara and sought for among newborn children after the death of the preceding Dalai Lama.

Dalai Lama British

/ ˈdælaɪ ˈlɑːmə /

noun

(until 1959) the chief lama and ruler of Tibet
born 1935, the 14th holder of this office (1940), who fled to India (1959): Nobel peace prize 1989

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Dalai Lama

From Mongolian, equivalent to dalai “ocean” + lama “a celibate priest”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Dalai Lama said he accepted the award with "gratitude and humility".

From BBC

The Dalai Lama won a Grammy for audio, narration and storytelling for his audiobook "Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama".

From Barron's

Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said Monday he was grateful for his first Grammy, after bagging the top music industry award for audio book, narration and storytelling.

From Barron's

Many see the vote as the most consequential democratic moment for them since their revered Buddhist spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama -- who celebrated his 90th birthday last year -- fled Chinese rule in 1959.

From Barron's

It's the first time a Dalai Lama has received a Grammy nomination.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023