clique

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

clique, n. [F., fr. OF. cliquer to click. See Click, v. i.].

 A narrow circle of persons associated by common interests or for the accomplishment of a common purpose; -- generally used in a bad sense.  [1913 Webster]

clique, v. i. 

 To To associate together in a clannish way; to act with others secretly to gain a desired end; to plot; -- used with together.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

clique, n. a small exclusive group of people.

Derivative

cliquey adj. (cliquier, cliquiest). cliquish adj. cliquishness n. cliquism n.

Etymology

F f. cliquer CLICK

THESAURUS

clique

age group, associate with, assort with, band, battalion, bevy, body, brigade, bunch, cabal, cadre, camarilla, camp, cast, cell, charmed circle, chum, chum together, chum with, circle, clan, clique with, closed circle, club together, cohort, company, complement, consort with, contingent, corps, coterie, covey, crew, crowd, detachment, detail, division, elite, elite group, faction, fellowship, fleet, flock together, fraternize, gang, group, grouping, groupment, hang around with, hang out with, herd together, hobnob with, in-group, ingroup, inner circle, join, join in fellowship, junta, junto, keep company with, mingle with, mix with, mob, movement, out-group, outfit, pack, pal, pal up with, pal with, party, peer group, phalanx, platoon, posse, regiment, ring, run in couples, run with, salon, set, sort with, squad, stable, string, take up with, team, tie up with, tribe, troop, troupe, we-group, wing

ROGET THESAURUS

clique

Council

N council, committee, subcommittee, comitia, court, chamber, cabinet, board, bench, staff, senate, senatus, parliament, chamber of deputies, directory, reichsrath, rigsdag, cortes, storthing, witenagemote, junta, divan, musnud, sanhedrim, classis, Amphictyonic council, duma, house of representatives, legislative assembly, legislative council, riksdag, volksraad, witan, caput, consistory, chapter, syndicate, court of appeal, board of control, board of works, vestry, county council, local board, audience chamber, council chamber, state chamber, cabinet council, privy council, cockpit, convocation, synod, congress, convention, diet, states-general, assembly, caucus, conclave, clique, conventicle, meeting, sitting, seance, conference, convention, exhibition, session, palaver, pourparler, durbar, house, quorum, council fire, powwow, primary, meeting, assemblage, member, senator, member of parliament, M, P, councilor, representative of the people, assemblyman, congressman, councilman, councilwoman, alderman, freeholder, senatorial, curule, congressional, parliamentary, legislative, law-making, regulatory, deliberative.

Party

N party, faction, side, denomination, communion, set, crew, band, horde, posse, phalanx, family, clan, team, tong, council, community, body, fellowship, sodality, solidarity, confraternity, familistere, familistery, brotherhood, sisterhood, knot, gang, clique, ring, circle, group, crowd, in-crowd, coterie, club, casino, machine, Tammany, Tammany Hall, corporation, corporate body, guild, establishment, company, copartnership, partnership, firm, house, joint concern, joint-stock company, cahoot, combine, trust, society, association, institute, institution, union, trades union, league, syndicate, alliance, Verein, Bund, Zollverein, combination, Turnverein, league offensive and defensive, alliance offensive and defensive, coalition, federation, confederation, confederacy, junto, cabal, camarilla, camorra, brigue, freemasonry, party spirit, Confederates, Conservatives, Democrats, Federalists, Federals, Freemason, Knight Templar, Kuklux, Kuklux Klan, KKK, Liberals, Luddites, Republicans, Socialists, Tories, Whigs staff, dramatis personae, in league, in partnership, in alliance, bonded together, banded together, linked, joined together, embattled, confederated, federative, joint, hand in hand, side by side, shoulder to shoulder, en masse, in the same boat.