caste -
in some social insects (such as ants) a physically distinct individual or group of individuals specialized to perform certain functions in the colony
colony a group of organisms of the same type living or growing together
caste -
(Hinduism) a hereditary social class among Hindus; stratified according to ritual purity
social class,
socio-economic class,
stratum,
class one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock)
hindooism,
hinduism a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and based on a caste system; it is characterized by a belief in reincarnation, by a belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils
caste -
a social class separated from others by distinctions of hereditary rank or profession or wealth
caste -
social status or position conferred by a system based on class; "lose caste by doing work beneath one's station"
A caste is a combined social system of occupation, endogamy, culture, social class and political power. Caste should not be confused with class, in that members of a caste are deemed to be alike in function or culture, whereas not all members of a defined class may be so alike. Although Indian society is often now associated with the word "caste", it was first used by the Portuguese to describe inherited class status in their own European society.
