totem
[ toh-tuh m ]
/ ˈtoʊ təm /
noun
a natural object or an animate being, as an animal or bird, assumed as the emblem of a clan, family, or group.
an object or natural phenomenon with which a family or sib considers itself closely related.
a representation of such an object serving as the distinctive mark of the clan or group.
anything serving as a distinctive, often venerated, emblem or symbol.
Origin of totem
1750–60,
Americanism; < Ojibwa
ninto·te·m my totem,
oto·te·man his totem (probably orig. my clan-village-mate, derivative of stem
o·te·- dwell in or as a village; compare
o·te·na village)
OTHER WORDS FROM totem
to·tem·ic [toh-tem-ik] /toʊˈtɛm ɪk/, adjective to·tem·i·cal·ly, adverb sub·to·tem, noun sub·to·tem·ic, adjectiveWords nearby totem
tote,
tote bag,
tote board,
tote box,
tote road,
totem,
totem pole,
totemism,
totemist,
totemite,
totes
Example sentences from the Web for totemic
British Dictionary definitions for totemic
totem
/ (ˈtəʊtəm) /
noun
(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
a representation of such an object
Derived forms of totem
totemic (təʊˈtɛmɪk), adjective totemically, adverbWord Origin for totem
C18: from Ojibwa
nintōtēm mark of my family
Cultural definitions for totemic
totem
An animal, plant, or other object in nature that has a special relationship to a person, family, or clan and serves as a sign for that person or group.
Idioms and Phrases with totemic
totem
see low man on the totem pole.