/ traɪb; NAmE / noun
1.
(sometimes offensive ) (in developing countries) a group of people of the same race, and with the same customs, language, religion, etc., living in a particular area and often led by a chief :
tribes living in remote areas of the Amazonian rainforest
2.
(usually disapproving ) a group or class of people, especially of one profession :
He had a sudden outburst against the whole tribe of actors.
3.
( biology ) a group of related animals or plants :
a tribe of cats
4.
( informal or humorous ) a large number of people :
One or two of the grandchildren will be there, but not the whole tribe.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French tribu or Latin tribus (singular and plural); perhaps related to tri- three and referring to the three divisions of the early people of Rome.