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.
A venerated emblem or symbol: “grew up with the totems and taboos typical of an Irish Catholic kid in Boston”(Connie Paige).