noun
A mark worn by a Hindu on the forehead to indicate caste, status, or sect, or as an ornament.
‘The youngest female member of the household leads the puja by applying a red tilak to all the other members of the family before everyone joins together in worship.’- ‘When he emerged a few minutes later, he had a tilak on his forehead and some prasad in his right hand.’
- ‘At the entrance of the home, guests were received in the customary manner - a tilak on the forehead and a one-rupee coin in their palms.’
- ‘The taxi driver has an orange tilak on his forehead and a host of miniature gods swinging from the roof of his vehicle.’
- ‘Besides purification, the tilak also offers the wearer protection from ghosts, evil influences, bad dreams, accidents and many other things.’
Origin
From Sanskrit tilaka.
Are You Learning English? Here Are Our Top English Tips