taboo
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ta·boo
also ta·bu (tă′bo͞o′, tə-)n. pl. ta·boos also ta·bus
1. A ban or inhibition resulting from social custom or emotional aversion.
2.
a. A prohibition, especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands, excluding something from use, approach, or mention because of its sacred and inviolable nature.
b. An object, word, or act protected by such a prohibition.
adj.
Excluded or forbidden from use, approach, or mention: a taboo subject.
tr.v. ta·booed, ta·boo·ing, ta·boos also ta·bued or ta·bu·ing or ta·bus
To exclude from use, approach, or mention; place under taboo.
[Tongan tabu, under prohibition, from Proto-Polynesian *tapu.]
Word History: The word taboo first appears in English in the journals of Captain James Cook, the British explorer who led three expeditions to the Pacific Ocean and greatly broadened European knowledge about the peoples living on the Pacific islands. In 1777, Cook wrote that the word "taboo ... has a very comprehensive meaning; but, in general, signifies that a thing is forbidden.... When any thing is forbidden to be eat, or made use of, they say, that it is taboo." Cook was in Tonga at the time, and so it is the Tongan form tabu that is the source of the English word taboo. However, words related to Tongan tabu are found in other Polynesian languages, such as Maori tapu and Hawaiian kapu. (In the history of Hawaiian, the original Polynesian t-sound has regularly changed to a k-sound.) Other words Cook brought back from his journeys include tattoo (also of Polynesian origin) and kangaroo (from Guugu Yimidhirr, a language of Australia).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
taboo
(təˈbuː) ortabu
adj
1. (Sociology) forbidden or disapproved of; placed under a social prohibition or ban: taboo words.
2. (Anthropology & Ethnology) (in Polynesia and other islands of the South Pacific) marked off as simultaneously sacred and forbidden
n, pl -boos or -bus
3. (Sociology) any prohibition resulting from social or other conventions
4. (Anthropology & Ethnology) ritual restriction or prohibition, esp of something that is considered holy or unclean
vb
(tr) to place under a taboo
[C18: from Tongan tapu]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ta•boo
(təˈbu, tæ-)adj., n., pl. -boos, adj.
1. proscribed by society as improper or unacceptable: taboo words.
2. set apart as sacred; forbidden for general use; placed under a prohibition or bar.
n. 3. a prohibition or interdiction of something; exclusion from use or practice.
4. the system or practice of setting things apart as sacred or forbidden for general use.
5. exclusion from social relations; ostracism.
v.t. 6. to put under a taboo; prohibit or forbid.
7. to ostracize.
[1770–80; < Tongan tapu or Fijian tabu]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
taboo
Past participle: tabooed
Gerund: tabooing
| Imperative |
|---|
| taboo |
| taboo |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
taboo
1. A word of Polynesian/Melanesian origin which is used in anthropology to refer to an action, object, or space which society regards as forbidden. For example, in many societies, incest is taboo.
2. A prohibition that a society places on a particular form of behavior.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | taboo - a prejudice (especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands) that prohibits the use or mention of something because of its sacred nature bias, prejudice, preconception - a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation Polynesia - the islands in the eastern part of Oceania |
| 2. | taboo - an inhibition or ban resulting from social custom or emotional aversion inhibition - the quality of being inhibited | |
| Verb | 1. | taboo - declare as sacred and forbidden restrict - place under restrictions; limit access to; "This substance is controlled" |
| Adj. | 1. | taboo - excluded from use or mention; "forbidden fruit"; "in our house dancing and playing cards were out"; "a taboo subject" impermissible - not permitted; "impermissible behavior" |
| 2. | taboo - forbidden to profane use especially in South Pacific islands sacred - concerned with religion or religious purposes; "sacred texts"; "sacred rites"; "sacred music" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
taboo
noun
1. prohibition, ban, restriction, disapproval, anathema, interdict, proscription Not all men respect the taboo against bedding a friend's woman.
adjective
1. forbidden, banned, prohibited, ruled out, not allowed, unacceptable, outlawed, unthinkable, not permitted, disapproved of, anathema, off limits, frowned on, proscribed, beyond the pale, unmentionable Cancer is a taboo subject.
forbidden allowed, permitted, sanctioned, acceptable
forbidden allowed, permitted, sanctioned, acceptable
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
taboo
also tabunoun
A refusal to allow:
Not allowed:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
tabutabuizovanýtabuizovat
tabutabubelagt
tabutabu-
tabu
tabu
bannaîur, forboîinn
タブータブーとなっている
금기금지된
tabu
tabu
tabu
tabutabuförklarad
ข้อห้ามซึ่งต้องห้าม
cấm kỵđiều cấm kỵ
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
taboo
[təˈbuː]Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
taboo
, tabuvt → für tabu erklären, tabui(sier)eren
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
taboo,
tabu
(təˈbuː) – plurals taˈboos ~taˈbus – noun, adjective (something) forbidden for religious reasons or because it is against social custom. Alcohol is (a) taboo in Muslim societies.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
taboo
→ مُحَرَّم tabu, tabuizovaný tabu, tabubelagt tabu ταμπού tabú tabu, tabu- tabou tabu tabù タブー, タブーとなっている 금기, 금지된 taboe tabu zakaz, zakazany tabu запретный, табу tabu, tabuförklarad ข้อห้าม, ซึ่งต้องห้าม tabu cấm kỵ, điều cấm kỵ 禁忌, 禁忌的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
ta·boo
, tabun. tabú, prohibición;
a. prohibido-a.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
taboo
adj prohibido; n (pl taboos) tabú mEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.