Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [toh-tuh m]
- /ˈtoʊ təm/
- /ˈtəʊ.təm/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [toh-tuh m]
- /ˈtoʊ təm/
Definitions of totem word
- noun totem a natural object or an animate being, as an animal or bird, assumed as the emblem of a clan, family, or group. 1
- noun totem an object or natural phenomenon with which a family or sib considers itself closely related. 1
- noun totem a representation of such an object serving as the distinctive mark of the clan or group. 1
- noun totem anything serving as a distinctive, often venerated, emblem or symbol. 1
- noun totem sacred object or symbol 1
- countable noun totem In some societies, a family's totem is the particular animal, plant, or natural object which they regard as a special symbol and which they believe has spiritual significance. 0
Information block about the term
Origin of totem
First appearance:
before 1750 One of the 47% newest English words
1750-60, Americanism; < Ojibwa ninto·te·m my totem, oto·te·man his totem (probably orig. my clan-village-mate, derivative of stem o·te·- dwell in or as a village; compare o·te·na village)
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Totem
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
totem popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 87% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
totem usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for totem
noun totem
- allah — Allah is the name of God in Islam.
- caryatid — a column, used to support an entablature, in the form of a draped female figure
- column — A column is a tall, often decorated cylinder of stone which is built to honour someone or forms part of a building.
- daemon — a demigod
- demigod — In mythology, a demigod is a less important god, especially one who is half god and half human.
Top questions with totem
- what does totem mean?
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- which region is famous for its totem poles?
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- how to draw a totem pole?
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