a family, race, or series of generations, descending from the same progenitor, and kept distinct, as in the case of the twelve tribes of israel, descended from the twelve sons of jacob.-a number of species or genera having certain structural characteristics in common; as, a tribe of plants; a tribe of animals.-a nation of savages or uncivilized people; a body of rude people united under one leader or government; as, the tribes of the six nations; the seneca tribe.-a division, class, or distinct portion of a people, from whatever cause that distinction may have originated; as, the city of athens was divided into ten tribes.-a family of animals descended from some particular female progenitor, through the female line; as, the duchess tribe of shorthorns.-to distribute into tribes or classes.