1 a tall wooden pole that has symbols and pictures (totems) carved or painted on it, traditionally made by Native Americans and Canadians on the west coast 图腾柱

2 (US, informal 美，非正式) a range of different levels or ranks in an organization, etc ﹙机构等内的﹚等级，级别: I didn't want to be low man on the totem pole for ever. 我不想永远当小人物。