clique

A small group of people who spend time together and usually keep others out.

• She never belonged to a clique.
• A small clique controlled the club.
• The school cliques made new students feel unwelcome.

Similar words: closed circle, in-group

Common phrases: exclusive clique, school clique, join a clique

A group of points in a mathematical network where every point is directly connected to every other point.

• These four vertices form a clique.
• The algorithm searches for the largest clique.
• A graph may contain several overlapping cliques.

Similar words: complete subgraph

Common phrases: maximum clique, maximal clique, clique size

To form a small group with people who keep others out.

• They clique together at school.
• The senior members cliqued with one another.
• Why do these students clique with only their closest friends?

How to use it: clique with someone (Some students clique with people from their own town.)

Similar words: form a clique

Common phrases: clique with someone, clique together