TOTEM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does totem mean? 

• TOTEM (noun)
  The noun TOTEM has 2 senses:

1. a clan or tribe identified by their kinship to a common totemic object

2. emblem consisting of an object such as an animal or plant; serves as the symbol of a family or clan (especially among American Indians)

  Familiarity information: TOTEM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TOTEM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A clan or tribe identified by their kinship to a common totemic object

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Hypernyms ("totem" is a kind of...):

clan; kin; kin group; kindred; kinship group; tribe (group of people related by blood or marriage)

Meronyms (members of "totem"):

totemist (a person who belongs to a clan or tribe having a totem)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Emblem consisting of an object such as an animal or plant; serves as the symbol of a family or clan (especially among American Indians)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("totem" is a kind of...):

emblem (special design or visual object representing a quality, type, group, etc.)

Domain region:

America; the States; U.S.; U.S.A.; United States; United States of America; US; USA (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)

Derivation:

totemic (relating to totemism)