clique /kliːk/noun 4verb 2forms 3 noun4 •A small, exclusive group of individuals, usually having some common characteristic such as lifestyle or social status, or common purpose; specifically one formed for disreputable purposes, or which purports to be an authority on a particular matter; a cabal.This school used to be really friendly, but now everyone keeps to their own cliques. •(Internet) A group of related websites that link to each other, like a webring but with exclusive membership determined by the clique owner.Does anyone know what an internet clique is/does? I came across a few and am thoroughly confused. — 1999 •(historical) An informal faction in the Republic of China (1912–1949) led by one or more warlords exercising regional control through local armed forces (particularly during the Warlord Era); a regional junta.Within the military, the Kwangsi clique of Li Tsung-jen and Pai Ch'ung-hsi were openly opposed to Chiang [Kai-shek]'s policies; while Ho Ying-ch'in and others were ambivalent. — 1976 •A subgraph isomorphic to a complete graph.The problem of finding the largest clique in an arbitrary graph is NP-complete. verb2 •(informal) To form a clique (“small, exclusive group of individuals, usually having some common characteristic”; noun sense 1); to associate with others in a clannish way.[N]o unkind feeling should exist in the profession, for this never puts a penny more into a man's pocket; and […] that injurious system of cliquing together should be put a stop to, […] — 1843 •(informal) To act with others secretly to gain a desired end; to plot, to scheme. formscliqued · cliquing · cliques
