Noun: totem tow-tum
- Emblem consisting of an object such as an animal or plant; serves as the symbol of a family or clan (especially among American Indians)
"The eagle totem stood tall at the entrance of the tribal grounds"
- A family, clan, or tribal group believed to share a mystical kinship with a particular animal, plant, or natural phenomenon
"The Bear totem considered the bear their spiritual ancestor"
Derived forms: totems
Type of: clan, emblem, kin, kin group, kindred, kinship group, tribe
Encyclopedia: Totem