Brahman (redirected from Brahmans)

Brah·man  (brämn)

n.

1. also Brah·ma (-m) Hinduism

a. A religious formula or prayer and the holy or sacred power in it and in the officiating priest.

b. The holy or sacred power that is the source and sustainer of the universe.

c. The single absolute being pervading the universe and found within the individual; atman.

2. also Brahmin (-mn) A member of the highest of the four major castes of traditional Indian society, responsible for officiating at religious rites and studying and teaching the Vedas.

3. also Brah·ma (-m) or Brah·min (-mn) One of a breed of domestic cattle developed in the southern United States from stock originating in India and having a hump between the shoulders and a pendulous dewlap. Well adapted to hot climates, it is used chiefly for crossbreeding.

adj.

also Brahmin (-mn) Of or relating to the caste of Brahmans.

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[Sanskrit brahma, brahman-. Senses 2 and 3, from Sanskrit brhmaa-, Brahmanic, from brahm, brahma-, Brahman; see Brahma¹.]

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Brah·manic (-mnk), Brah·mani·cal adj.

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Brahman

Noun

pl -mans

1. Also: (Brahmin) a member of the highest or priestly caste in the Hindu caste system

2. Hinduism the ultimate and impersonal divine reality of the universe [Sanskrit: prayer]

Brahmanic adj

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	brahman - a member of a social and cultural elite (especially a descendant of an old New England family); "a Boston brahman" brahmin aristocrat, blue blood, patrician - a member of the aristocracy
	2.	brahman - a member of the highest of the four Hindu varnas; "originally all brahmans were priests" brahmin brahman, brahmin - the highest of the four varnas: the priestly or sacerdotal category Hindoo, Hindu, Hindustani - a native or inhabitant of Hindustan or India smarta - one of a group of brahmans who uphold nonsectarian orthodoxy according to the Vedanta school of Hinduism
	3.	brahman - the highest of the four varnas: the priestly or sacerdotal category brahmin varna - (Hinduism) the name for the original social division of Vedic people into four groups (which are subdivided into thousands of jatis) brahman, brahmin - a member of the highest of the four Hindu varnas; "originally all brahmans were priests"
	4.	Brahman - any of several breeds of Indian cattle; especially a large American heat and tick resistant greyish humped breed evolved in the Gulf States by interbreeding Indian cattle and now used chiefly for crossbreeding Bos indicus, Brahma, Brahmin Bos, genus Bos - wild and domestic cattle; in some classifications placed in the subfamily Bovinae or tribe Bovini bovine - any of various members of the genus Bos zebu - domesticated ox having a humped back and long horns and a large dewlap; used chiefly as a draft animal in India and east Asia