meme

/meem/ , n. [coined by analogy with gene , by Richard Dawkins] An idea
considered as a replicator , esp. with the connotation that memes parasitize
people into propagating them much as viruses do. Used esp. in the phrase
meme complex denoting a group of mutually supporting memes that form an
organized belief system, such as a religion. This lexicon is an
(epidemiological) vector of the hacker subculture meme complex; each entry
might be considered a meme. However, meme is often misused to mean meme
complex. Use of the term connotes acceptance of the idea that in humans (and
presumably other tool- and language-using sophonts) cultural evolution by
selection of adaptive ideas has superseded biological evolution by selection
of hereditary traits. Hackers find this idea congenial for tolerably obvious
reasons.

