Dalai Lama

[dah-lahy lah-muh]

noun

1. (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

/ ˈdælaɪ ˈlɑːmə /

noun

1. (until 1959) the chief lama and ruler of Tibet

2. born 1935, the 14th holder of this office (1940), who fled to India (1959): Nobel peace prize 1989

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dalai Lama¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dalai Lama¹

from Mongolian dalai ocean; see _lama