Brahman

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Hinduism A religious formula or prayer and the holy or sacred power in it and in the officiating priest.
2. n. Hinduism The holy or sacred power that is the source and sustainer of the universe.
3. n. Hinduism The single absolute being pervading the universe and found within the individual; atman.
4. n. 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.
5. n. 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.
6. adj. Of or relating to the caste of Brahmans.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A member of the sacred or sacerdotal caste among the Hindus. From being in the beginning individuals and families distinguished for wisdom, sanctity, and poetic power, they gradually consolidated their influence and became a strictly hereditary class, holding in their hands the ministry of holy things, the custody of the scriptures and knowledge of their sacred and learned dialect, and the performance of the sacrifice. They were held to be created from the mouth of Brahma, to be inviolable, and entitled to the worship of the other castes. Theoretically, the life of a Brahman was divided into four stages, those of student, householder, anchorite, and ascetic. In later times the relations and occupations of the castes have become much confused, and Brahmans are to be found in every grade of dignity and of very various modes of life. There are many subdivisions of the caste, more or less isolated, and refusing intercourse with one another. Also written Brahmin.

Wiktionary

1. n. Hinduism A concept of Hinduism. Brahman is the unchanging, infinite, immanent, and transcendent reality which is the Divine Ground of all matter, energy, time, space, being, and everything beyond in this Universe. The nature of Brahman is described as transpersonal, personal and impersonal by different philosophical schools.
2. n. dated a Brahmin

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A person of the highest or sacerdotal caste among the Hindus.
2. n. a person from an old, respected, and usually wealthy family who has considerable social or political influence; -- a term used especially in New England.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. the highest of the four varnas: the priestly or sacerdotal category
2. n. a member of the highest of the four Hindu varnas
3. n. 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
4. n. a member of a social and cultural elite (especially a descendant of an old New England family)