totem Definition
to·tem (tōt′əm)
noun
- among some peoples, an animal or natural object considered as being ancestrally related to a given kin or descent group and taken as its symbol
- an image of this
- a symbol, esp. one held in high regard
Etymology: < an Algonquian language: cf. Ojibwa nindoodeem, my totem
totem Related Forms
to·tem′ic (tō tem′ik) adjective
totem Synonyms
totem Usage Examples
Preposition: of
tribe: Among the Gaelic peoples it was a powerful totem of many tribes.
Converse of object
- become: But however much they've become totems of cool, they could be cooler still.
- have: The Aborigines were divided into clans; each clan had a totem to identify itself by.
- build: There are two ways to build totems, from the top or from the bottom.
- make: Opening times: Please ring for appointment This year, alongside my raku work and tiles, I started making totems.
Adjective modifier
- animal: Each figure appears with an animal totem at his feet.
- tribal: The pole displayed the tribal totem at the top.
- powerful: Among the Gaelic peoples it was a powerful totem of many tribes.
- political: And look what happened to the foxhunting Bill: a political totem that made too many people too angry over absolutely bugger all.
Modifies a noun
- pole: In front of the building on the extreme left, a 32 ft high Canadian totem pole can be glimpsed through the trees.
- animal: The priest may use a bonus dice in all attempts to interact with their totem animal.
- sign: Once you have parked, follow the totem signs to the Center.
- Pole: Totem Poles are a characteristic feature of Pacific coast Indian Art.
- meal: We celebrate our worship and our guilt in " totem meals " .
Noun used with modifier
- animal: The Beast Gods The nomadic tribesmen of the Northern Wastes worship animal totems, which differ between tribes.
- clan: These were surely at one time clan totems, if not the power animals which guarded and guided the people of each group.
- worship: The Beast Gods The nomadic tribesmen of the Northern Wastes worship animal totems, which differ between tribes.
- laboratory: The electron microscope made this possible by playing the role of a " laboratory totem " for a growing tribe of molecular biologists.
- stone: Carve your own piece of a stone beach totem pole - learn how to use stone carving tools using special ' soft blocks ' .
Browse dictionary entries near totem
- ‹ tote board
- ‹ tote bag
- ‹ tote
- ‹ totaquine
- ‹ totally
- ‹ totalizer
- ‹ totalize
- ‹ totalizator
- ‹ totality of the circumstances test
- ‹ totality
- totem pole ›
- totemism ›
- tother ›
- toti- ›
- totipalmate ›
- totipotent ›
- Tottenham ›
- totter ›
- toucan ›
- touch ›

