a coloured spot or mark worn by Hindus, esp on the forehead, often indicating membership of a religious sect, caste, etc, or (in the case of a woman) marital status
Word origin
from Sanskrit tilaka
Tilak in British English
(ˈtɪlək)
noun
Bal Gangadhar (ˈbæl ˈɡæŋəˌdɑː), also called Lokamanya. 1856–1920, Indian nationalist leader, educationalist, and scholar, who founded (1914) the Indian Home Rule League
tilak in American English
(ˈtɪlək)
noun
a religious mark, generally of sandalwood paste, worn on the forehead by Hindu males or females