Muhammad Ali
75
2.5
- proper noun
- /məˈhɑːməd əˈliː/
- The champion of the world, Muhammad Ali, was known for his charisma both in and out of the boxing ring.
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Watch on YouTubeAnd he said, let me tell you something, Muhammad Ali needed George Foreman in order to become Muhammad Ali.
- And he said, let me tell you something, Muhammad Ali needed George Foreman in order to become Muhammad Ali.
- So I can pretty much tell you that Muhammad Ali was primarily motivated by a love for beating someone else.
- My favorite quote from Muhammad Ali is that service to others is the rent we pay for our room here on Earth.
- But Mike Tyson, who we've taught Mike Tyson was talking about Muhammad Ali and he went my Muhammad Ali.
Examples
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Ali, who had changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali when he joined the Nation of Islam in 1964, was at the lowest point in his professional life.
Academic text (2011) -
Shortly after winning the heavyweight crown, Cassius Clay joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
Fiction book (1998) -
My favorite quote from Muhammad Ali is that service to others is the rent we pay for our room here on Earth.
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Muhammad Ali wanted to be the best in his field.
Academic text (2013) -
Recently, Ali established the Muhammad Ali World Healing Project.
Fiction book (1998) -
And soon, he will open a Muhammad Ali museum in Louisville, Kentucky.
Fiction book (1998) -
Muhammad Ali waves to fans as he enters the Army induction center to officially refuse the draft.
Fiction book (1998) -
Events following the Atlanta fight launched Muhammad Ali's remarkable international fighting career, which lasted for eleven more years until his retirement from the ring in 1981.
Academic text (2011) -
The fight ended after only nine minutes, in the third round, when the referee declared Muhammad Ali the victor by technical knockout after he had inflicted a deep cut over Jerry Quarry's left eye.
Academic text (2011) -
On Monday evening, October 26, 1970, Muhammad Ali, amid long-enduring controversy and at the center of media frenzy, made his improbable, historic boxing comeback in Atlanta, Georgia.
Academic text (2011)
Synonyms
140
2.9
A famous American boxer who won the world heavyweight title three times
19
6.5
The name Muhammad Ali had at birth before he changed it
Surface Forms
Morphology
Muhammad + Ali
This is a proper name referring to a specific historical individual (Muhammad Ali Pasha) whose identity and role cannot be derived from the constituent personal names. A B1 learner who knows the names 'Muhammad' and 'Ali' would not be able to infer the person’s historical status as Ottoman viceroy or founder of modern Egypt; proper names are arbitrary and often referents are language- and culture-specific, making this opaque.
Etymology
Muhammad Ali was born 'Cassius Clay' and changed his name after joining Islam in 1964. He fought in the ring with quick moves and often spoke out for civil rights, so the name Muhammad Ali now reminds people of the famous boxer and activist.