(kär′mə)

1. Hinduism & Buddhism a. The totality of a person's actions and conduct during successive incarnations, regarded as causally influencing his or her destiny. b. The law or principle through which such influence is believed to operate.

2. Fate or destiny resulting from one's previous actions: " [The pitcher] had mostly avoided damage through the first four innings despite putting at least two runners on base three times, but he could not hold back the bad karma any longer" (Ben Shpigel).