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adaptive ideas has superseded biological evolution by selection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.