clique
clique Lexical Profile
clique Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small, close-knit group of people who share common interests and do not readily allow others to join them.
"The new student found it difficult to make friends because the school was divided into rigid social cliques."
In graph theory, a subset of vertices of an undirected graph such that every two distinct vertices in the subset are adjacent.
"Finding the largest clique in a network is a well-known computational problem in computer science."
• verb
To form or associate in an exclusive group or clique.
"During the conference, attendees from the same university tended to clique together in the lounge."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'clique' (an exclusive social group, pronounced 'kleek' or 'klik') with 'click' (a short sharp sound, or to get along well with someone).
• Rhymes for clique
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 18th century from French 'clique', originally referring to a noisy gang or group of schemers, from the Old French verb 'cliquer' ('to make a noise or clap').