taboo

Pluraltaboos

Formstaboos, tabooing, tabooed

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A ban on doing or saying something that comes from custom or strong feelings.

   In many families there is a taboo against talking about money.

   She broke a taboo by speaking openly about her illness.

   Similarprohibition, ban, proscription

   Note
2. 2
   adjective

   Not allowed to be done, used or talked about, often because of custom.

   Politics is a taboo topic at our family dinners.

   Phones are taboo at the table in our house.

   Similarforbidden, prohibited, unmentionable, proscribed, banned

   Oppositeacceptable, permitted, allowed

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   In the Pacific islands of Polynesia, a holy thing that people must not touch, use or name.

   On the island, the old temple was a taboo, and nobody went near it.

   The chief's food was a taboo that only he could touch.

   Note
4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To mark something as not allowed, because of custom or belief.

   The chief tabooed the tree, so no one could pick its fruit.

   Each year the elders taboo part of the forest.

   Note
5. 5
   forbidverbtransitive

   To forbid something.

   Our coach tabooed soda for the whole season.

   Some parents taboo video games on school nights.

   Similarban, forbid, prohibit, outlaw, proscribe

   Oppositeallow, permit

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