each of the hereditary classes of Hindu society, distinguished by relative degrees of ritual purity or pollution and of social status:members of the lower castes [mass noun]:a man of high caste
[mass noun] the system of dividing society into castes:caste has survived among Goa’s Christians [as modifier]:the caste system
any class or group of people who inherit exclusive privileges or are perceived as socially distinct:those educated in private schools belong to a privileged caste
Entomology (in some social insects) a class of physically distinct individuals with a particular function in the society:in both ants and termites the workers can include specialist castes such as soldiers
lose caste
descend in the caste system, e.g. by taking employment regarded as of lower status.
come to be regarded with less respect; lose status:they lost caste by moving away from the old house
