clan
clan — noun
1. a traditional social unit found mostly in Scotland whose members share a common
a traditional social unit found mostly in Scotland whose members share a common surname, trace their roots to a shared founder, and answer to a chief
The MacKenzie clan gathers each summer at the old castle for a celebration.
clan + singular verb (collective noun pattern)
At the Highland Games you can tell someone's clan by the tartan pattern they wear.
someone's clan (possessive determiner + clan)
The chief of the Campbell clan welcomed guests from dozens of countries to the gathering.
Researchers traced the clan's origins to a fourteenth-century warrior who settled in the glen.
文法句型
clan + of + plural noun
用法筆記
Often capitalized when referring to a specific named clan, e.g., the MacLeod clan. The clan surname is normally the one the chief uses, prefixed by Mac- (meaning 'son of').
常見錯誤
2. any extended family that includes many relatives across generations, or a close
any extended family that includes many relatives across generations, or a close community bonded by a particular interest, job, or hobby
The entire Watanabe clan took up three long tables at the wedding banquet.
entire + clan (emphasising the whole group)
A local clan of knitters gathers every Wednesday afternoon at the library.
clan of + [activity noun]
Members of the cycling clan organised a charity ride along the east coast.
The gaming clan has players from six different countries on its competitive team.
In our village the Lin clan has been working these rice fields for eight generations.
文法句型
clan + of + plural noun
possessive + clan
用法筆記
When used of a family, clan suggests a larger and looser grouping than 'family' — often including cousins, in-laws, and distant relatives. For interest groups, it carries a warm sense of belonging and loyalty.