totem
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to·tem
(tō′təm)n.
1.
a. An animal, plant, or natural object serving among certain tribal or traditional peoples as the emblem of a clan or family and sometimes revered as its founder, ancestor, or guardian.
b. A representation of such an object.
c. A social group having a common affiliation to such an object.
2. A venerated emblem or symbol: "grew up with the totems and taboos typical of an Irish Catholic kid in Boston" (Connie Paige).
[Ojibwa nindoodem, my totem.]
to·tem′ic (-tĕm′ĭk) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
totem
(ˈtəʊtəm)n
1. (Anthropology & Ethnology) (in some societies, esp among North American Indians) an object, species of animal or plant, or natural phenomenon symbolizing a clan, family, etc, often having ritual associations
2. (Anthropology & Ethnology) a representation of such an object
[C18: from Ojibwa nintōtēm mark of my family]
totemic adj
toˈtemically adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
to•tem
(ˈtoʊ təm)n.
1. a natural object or an animate being, as an animal or bird, assumed as the emblem of a clan, family, or group.
2. a representation of such an object or being serving as the distinctive mark of the clan or group.
3. anything serving as a distinctive, often venerated, emblem or symbol.
[1750–60, Amer.; < Ojibwa ninto·te·m my totem, oto·te·man his totem]
to•tem′ic (-ˈtɛm ɪk) adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Noun | 1. | totem - a clan or tribe identified by their kinship to a common totemic object totemist - a person who belongs to a clan or tribe having a totem |
2. | totem - emblem consisting of an object such as an animal or plant; serves as the symbol of a family or clan (especially among American Indians) emblem - special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc. U.S.A., United States, United States of America, US, USA, America, the States, U.S. - North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776 |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
طوطم: حَيوان أو نَبات كَرَمْز مُقَدَّس
totem
totem
totem
tótem
totemastotemo stulpas
totēms
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
totem
n → Totem nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
totem
(ˈtoutəm) noun (an image of) an animal or plant used as the badge or sign of a tribe, among North American Indians etc.
totem pole a large wooden pole on which totems are carved and painted.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.