totem

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Anthropology, Folklore

to·tem /ˈtəʊtəm $ ˈtoʊ-/ noun [countable]  SARFan animal, plant etc that is thought to have a special spiritual connection with a particular tribe, especially in North America, or a figure made to look like the animal etc 图腾；图腾形象 —totemic /təʊˈtemɪk $ toʊ-/ adjective

Examples from the Corpus

totem• Tribesmen select totem creatures as a bridge between the separate worlds of spirit and dreams.• He looked at the stains on his hands, then at the murder beside the totem.• When this dominant fish dies or is removed, his place is taken by the next man on the totem pole.• The hooded serpent was their totem.• There is only one thing I can tell you of these totems.• She touched this totem carefully, gaining confidence as it quivered and tautened.• And we were travelling again, through ravine, under totem.• And your totems have the same names as my masks, but I made those names up!Origin totem (1700-1800) Ojibwa ototeman “his totem”

to·tem nounChineseSyllable  

etc Corpus an is to animal, thought that plant

totem
to‧tem /ˈtəʊtəm $ ˈtoʊ-/ noun [countable]an animal, plant etc that is thought to have a special spiritual connection with a particular tribe, especially in North America, or a figure made to look like the animal etc
—totemic /təʊˈtemɪk $ toʊ-/ adjective

totemBrE /ˈtəʊtəm/ 🔊NAmE /ˈtoʊtəm/ 🔊 nounan animal or other natural object that is chosen and respected as a special symbol of a community or family, especially among Native Americans; an image of this animal, etc. （尤指美洲土著的）图腾；图腾形象▸ to·tem·ic BrE /təʊˈtemɪk/ 🔊NAmE /toʊˈtemɪk/ 🔊 adjective◆totemic animals图腾动物