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clique Definition

clique (klik, klēk)

noun

a small, exclusive circle of people; snobbish or narrow coterie

Etymology: Fr < OFr cliquer, to make a noise: of echoic orig.

Related Forms:

clique Synonyms

clique

n.

coterie, set, circle, group, clan, club, inner circle, ring, band, gang, crew, faction, cabal, junta, network, salon, crowd*, in-group*, bunch*, mob*; see also faction 1, organization 3.

clique refers to a small, highly exclusive group, often within a larger one, and implies snobbery, selfishness, or, sometimes, intrigue high-school cliques; coterie is a small, intimate, somewhat select group of people associated for social or other reasons a literary coterie; circle suggests any group of people having in common some particular interest or pursuit in music circles; set refers to a group, usually larger and, hence, less exclusive than a coterie, having a common background, interests, social status, etc. the sporting set

clique Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • form: A big society exists in order to form cliques.
  • have: Against us we have a well-organised clique, with its hands on the apparatus of power.
  • join: Don't join a clique, especially of moaning ex-pats.
  • create: I am no longer creating new cliques or adding new images, so don't bother submitting anything.
  • find: Algorithm 457: Finding all cliques of an undirected graph.

Converse of subject

  • run: Are operations transparent, or do things seem to be run by cliques?

Adjective modifier

  • Stalinist: Hence Soviet patriotism is inseparable from irreconcilable struggle against the Stalinist clique.
  • bureaucratic: The rivalry between the bureaucratic cliques can become the opening for a much wider political struggle.
  • small: The ICL functioned well into the 80s, attracting a small clique of The Knowing into its shadow.
  • military: Despite recent superficial moves toward political reconciliation, Myanmar remains in the grip of a bloodstained corrupt military clique.
  • little: Equally, Judith Warner's initial pool of interviewees is a wealthy little clique in the suburbs of Washington, DC.
  • own: Many people have an image of five separate sections, each with its own clique of writers.

Modifies a noun

  • detection: Clique detection is at present the only approach that guarantees finding all maximal patterns.
  • algorithm: Various such objects are here identified and surveyed, and the utilization of clique algorithms in the construction of these is considered.

Noun used with modifier

  • ruling: The domination of the ruling clique is based on the Red Army.
  • militarist: The struggle between the militarist cliques is destroying what remains of the unity of the country.

Preposition: of

  • people: It has become an arcane currency, written by a small clique of people in London where every­one is friends of everyone else.
  • expert: You need have no fear that you will always be the only novice among a clique of experts!
  • student: Plot Outline: Virginia is proud to belong to a clique of rich students at a private school called " The Top 10.