A caste is one of the traditional social classes into which people are divided in a Hindu society.
In the secretariat, there is a mix of those from the lower and upper castes.
2. uncountable noun
Caste is the system of dividing people in a society into different social classes.
The caste system shapes nearly every facet of Indian life.
More Synonyms of caste
caste in British English
(kɑːst)
noun
1.
a.
any of the four major hereditary classes, namely the Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra into which Hindu society is divided
See also Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya, Sudra
b. Also called: caste system
the system or basis of such classes
c.
the social position or rank conferred by this system
2.
any social class or system based on such distinctions as heredity, rank, wealth, profession, etc
3.
the position conferred by such a system
4. entomology
any of various types of specialized individual, such as the worker, in social insects (hive bees, ants, etc)
Word origin
C16: from Portuguese casta race, breed, ancestry, from casto pure, chaste, from Latin castus
caste in American English
(kæst, kɑːst)
noun
1. Sociology
a.
an endogamous and hereditary social group limited to persons of the same rank, occupation, economic position, etc., and having mores distinguishing it from other such groups
b.
any rigid system of social distinctions
2. Hinduism
any of the social divisions into which Hindu society is traditionally divided, each caste having its own privileges and limitations, transferred by inheritance from one generation to the next
Compare "> class (sense 13)
3.
any class or group of society sharing common cultural features
low caste
high caste
4.
social position conferred upon one by a caste system
to lose caste
5. Entomology
one of the distinct forms among polymorphous social insects, performing a specialized function in the colony, as a queen, worker or soldier
adjective
6.
of, pertaining to, or characterized by caste
a caste society
a caste system
a caste structure
Derived forms
casteism
noun
casteless
adjective
Word origin
[1545–55; ‹ Pg casta race, breed, n. use of casta, fem. of casto ‹ L castus pure, chaste]
Synonyms of 'caste'
class, order, race, station
More Synonyms of caste
In other languages
caste
British English: caste NOUN
A caste is one of the traditional social classes into which people are divided in a Hindu society.
Most of the upper castes worship the goddess Kali.
American English: caste
Brazilian Portuguese: casta
Chinese: 种姓制度
European Spanish: casta
French: caste
German: Kaste
Italian: casta
Japanese: カースト制度
Korean: 카스트 제도
European Portuguese: casta
Latin American Spanish: casta
(noun)
Definition
social rank
socially disadvantaged lower castes
Synonyms
class
the relationship between different social classes
order
He maintained that the higher orders of society must rule the lower.
race
We welcome students of all races, faiths and nationalities.
station
The vast majority knew their station in life and kept to it.
rank
Each rank of the peerage was respected.
status
promoted to the status of foreman
stratum
It was an enormous task that affected every stratum of society.
social order
lineage
Additional synonyms
in the sense of order
Definition
a social class
He maintained that the higher orders of society must rule the lower.
Synonyms
class,
set,
rank,
degree (archaic),
grade,
sphere,
caste
in the sense of race
Definition
a group of people of common ancestry with distinguishing physical features, such as skin colour or build
We welcome students of all races, faiths and nationalities.