Pronunciations (2)
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/tɹaɪb/
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tɹaɪb
Noun
An ethnic group larger than a band or clan (and which may contain clans) but smaller than a nation (and which in turn may constitute a nation with other tribes). The tribe is often the basis of ethnic identity.
- Examples
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the Twelve Tribes of Israel; Germanic tribes; Celtic tribes
The Formation of Kazakh Identity: From Tribe to Nation-state
More examples (2)
If two persons bore the same name, […] ambiguity was avoided by […] indicating their place of origin, the name of the tribe or deme being added for persons of the same town […], and the name of the country or town for foreigners […].
There have been other encounters with uncontacted tribes in recent years. In February, a young man from an isolated Indigenous tribe in Brazil made brief contact with the outside world before returning to the Amazon rainforest.
A tribal nation or people.
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This leaves for consideration of this group of small tribes, or subtribes, so far as mapped by the writer quoted, the Teule, Cazcan, and Tecuexe.
A nation or people considered culturally primitive, as may be the case in Africa, Australia or Native America.
Usage- Derogatory
- Informal
A socially cohesive group of people within a society.
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Near-synonyms: nation; ingroup
She found her tribe among fellow cross-stitchers.
More examples (1)
The thought of spending a year in close company with twitchers chilled me to the core. Not that I have anything against them, I am terribly fond of the members of the tribe, it is just that basically, they are a bunch of obsessive freaks.
A class or group of things.
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More examples (1)
In 1968, estimates of the number of active reprint publishers ranged from about 20 to 100 publishers. The fact that almost 300 U.S. reprint publishers have been identified is evidence that the reprint tribe continues to increase.
A group of apes who live and work together.
A hierarchical rank between family and genus.
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More examples (1)
The tempo of evolution in South American hamsters was very rapid – in the course of the Pliocene and Anthropocene 40 genera were formed here, at which time a series of them attained the level of tribe and subtribe (Oxymycteri, Phyllotiini, Ichthyomyini).
This family includes the whole of the wellknown tribe of Pigeons and Doves.
More examples (3)
It is the most beautiful species among the whole tribe of goats; of various colours, black, white, of a faint bluish tinge, and of a shade somewhat lighter than a fawn.
The large head and high forehead, together with the assinine ears and tail, of the Hart-Beest, render it one of the least handsome of the whole tribe of Antelopes.
There is good reason in favour of dividing the extensive tribe of Antelopes into two groups, differing as to characters of the dentition, and to unite these groups with the Ovines and Bovines.
Almost all the tribe of antelopes are of a gentle and social nature.
A species or group of similar species of animal.
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The cod may not improperly be placed at the head of the migrating or wandering tribe of fish.
More examples (1)
If one wants to study the tribe of lions or the tribe of tigers, all that is necessary is to study one individual, for it has neither choice nor prerogative, but acts entirely according to the dictates of the group spirit
A group of affiliated Mardi Gras Indians.
A collective noun for various animals.
A family of animals descended from some particular female progenitor, through the female line.
- Examples
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the Duchess tribe of shorthorns
Verb
To distribute into tribes or classes; to categorize.
Usage- Transitive
- Related words
- Examples
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1696-1699, William Nicolson, English Historical Library Our fowl, fish, and quadruped are well tribed.
Noun
a social division of (usually preliterate) people
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- Broader terms
a federation (as of American Indians)
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- Broader terms
(biology) a taxonomic category between a genus and a subfamily
- Broader terms
group of people related by blood or marriage
- Broader terms