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clique

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clique

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++clique /kliːk/ noun [countable]  GROUP OF PEOPLEa small group of people who think they are special and do not want other people to join them – used to show disapproval 派系;小圈子;小集团〔含贬义〕clique of a ruling clique of officials 统治集团中的官员 the cliques formed by high school students 由中学生组成的小圈子
Examples from the Corpus
cliqueHis flat became a haven for a clique of young men of similar tastes whom the war had thrown together in Cairo.Most of the kids were friendly, apart from a clique of girls who came from rich families.a clique of literary friends who thought they were so superiorEach clique treated the establishment as its club and took no notice at all of anyone outside the charmed circle.So, even moderate fame still eluded him, and Nicholson remained unknown outside of a small Hollywood clique.There was a really heavy little clique, the same ones that ousted the governor.Admittedly, they went to North Carolina as a fractious team with too many cliques.
Origin clique (1700-1800) French cliquer to make a noise
clique nounChinese
of Corpus a small group who think people they


clique
clique /kliːk/ noun [countable]
 Date: 1700-1800
 Language: French
 Origin: cliquer 'to make a noise'
a small group of people who think they are special and do not want other people to join them – used to show disapproval
    clique of
    a ruling clique of officials
    the cliques formed by high school students


cliqueBrE /kliːk/ 🔊NAmE /kliːk/ 🔊 noun [countable + singular or plural verb] (often disapproving) a small group of people who spend their time together and do not allow others to join them 派系;私党;小集团;小圈子