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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adaptive ideas has superseded biological evolution by selection of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.
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