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taboo

Syllabification: (ta·boo)
Pronunciation: /təˈbo͞o, ta-/

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Definition of taboo

noun (plural taboos)

  • a social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing.
  • a social practice that is prohibited or restricted:speaking about sex is a taboo in his country

adjective

  • prohibited or restricted by social custom:sex was a taboo subject
  • designated as sacred and prohibited:the burial ground was seen as a taboo place

verb (taboos, tabooing, tabooed /-ˈbo͞od/)

[with object]
  • place under prohibition:traditional societies taboo female handling of food during this period

Origin:

late 18th century: from Tongan tabu 'set apart, forbidden'; introduced into English by Captain Cook

taboo in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of taboo in the British & World English dictionary

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