tribes

Noun

tribe (plural tribes)

1. 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.
   • the Twelve Tribes of Israel; Germanic tribes; Celtic tribes
2. A tribal nation or people.
   • 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.1911, Cyrus Thomas, Indian Languages of Mexico and Central America
3. (derogatory, informal) A nation or people considered culturally primitive, as may be the case in Africa, Australia or Native America.
4. A socially cohesive group of people within a society.
   • Near-synonyms: nation; ingroup

   Synonyms:

   nation, ingroup

5. A class or group of things.
   • 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.1972, Carol A. Nemeyer, Scholarly Reprint Publishing in the United States, New York, N.Y.: R. R. Bowker Co., →ISBN, page 7
6. A group of apes who live and work together.

See all 13 meanings of tribe