GRE Word List

TOTEM

an object (such as an animal or plant) serving as the emblem of a family or clan and often as a reminder of its ancestry

The meaning of the word totem is an object (such as an animal or plant) serving as the emblem of a family or clan and often as a reminder of its ancestry.

Random words

WordMeaning
decorousmarked by propriety and good taste : correct
crassgross
plausiblesuperficially fair, reasonable, or valuable but often specious
glimmerto shine faintly or unsteadily
derivationthe formation of a word from another word or base (as by the addition of a usually noninflectional affix)
perverseturned away from what is right or good : corrupt
lanceta sharp-pointed and commonly 2-edged surgical instrument used to make small incisions
appositehighly pertinent or appropriate : apt
palmany of a family (Palmae synonym Arecaceae) of mostly tropical or subtropical monocotyledonous trees, shrubs, or vines with usually a simple stem and a terminal crown of large pinnate or fan-shaped leaves
mosaica surface decoration made by inlaying small pieces of variously colored material to form pictures or patterns