kɑ:st n. 1
any of
the Hindu hereditary classes
whose members
have no
social contact with other classes, but are socially
equal with
one another and often follow the
same occupations. 2 a
more or
less exclusive social
class. 3 a
system of
such classes. 4 the
position it confers. 5 Zool. a
form of social
insect having a
particular function. øcaste mark a
symbol on the
forehead denoting a person's caste.
lose caste
descend in the social
order. [Sp. and
Port. casta
lineage, race,
breed, fem. of casto
pure, CHASTE]