tribe
/traib/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A social group comprising numerous families, clans, or generations, often sharing a common ancestry, language, culture, and name, and typically having a recognized leader. This is the primary social and political unit in many traditional societies.
- (Biology) A taxonomic category ranking below a subfamily and above a genus. It is used in the scientific classification of plants and animals.
- A large number of persons, often with a shared characteristic or interest, perceived as a distinct group. This is a more informal, sometimes humorous or critical, modern usage.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Social Group):
- The Maasai tribe is known for its distinctive culture and pastoral lifestyle.
- Several tribes gathered for the annual festival to celebrate their shared heritage.
- Noun (Biology):
- In botanical classification, roses belong to the tribe Roseae.
- Noun (Informal Group):
- He's coming to the party with his whole tribe of college friends.
- I need to get advice from my tribe of fellow writers.
Advanced Usage
- "Tribal" (Adjective): Relating to or characteristic of a tribe or tribes.
- Tribal customs vary greatly across the continent.
- The design features intricate tribal patterns.
- Concept of "Tribe" in Anthropology: Refers to a type of human social organization based on kinship, with a relatively simple, non-industrialized structure. The term's usage and definition are subjects of ongoing academic discussion.
Variants and Related Words
- Tribesman/Tribeswoman (n): A member of a tribe.
- A tribeswoman demonstrated the traditional weaving technique.
- Tribalism (n): The state or fact of being organized in a tribe or tribes. More commonly, it refers to strong loyalty to one's own tribe or social group, often in opposition to others.
- Political tribalism can prevent constructive dialogue.
Synonyms
- Clan: A group of close-knit and interrelated families (often used interchangeably with tribe but may imply a smaller, more specific lineage).
- People: A body of persons united by a common culture, history, or nationality.
- Federation: A group of states or organizations united under a central authority (specific to the definition of a union of groups, like Native American tribes).
- Kinfolk: One's family and relations.
Related Phrases
- Chief of the tribe: The recognized leader of a tribe.
- The chief of the tribe made the final decision.
- To go native/tribal: (Idiomatic, sometimes considered offensive) To adopt the lifestyle or customs of an indigenous people.
- After living there for years, he completely went tribal.
Related Idioms
- A tribe of one: Someone who is fiercely independent and does not identify with any group.
- He doesn't join clubs or follow trends; he's a tribe of one.
- To belong to the same tribe: To share fundamental beliefs, interests, or characteristics with a group of people.
- As soon as we started talking about vintage cars, I knew we belonged to the same tribe.
Noun
- group of people related by blood or marriage
- (biology) a taxonomic category between a genus and a subfamily
- a federation (as of American Indians)
- a social division of (usually preliterate) people