Pronunciation: /ɛmˈbɑːgəʊ, ɪm-/
noun (plural embargoes)
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1an official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country: an embargo on grain sales an arms embargo
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an official ban on any activity: there is a complete embargo on taking photographs in court
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2 historical an order of a state forbidding foreign ships to enter, or any ships to leave, its ports: an embargo laid by our Emperor upon all vessels whatsoever
verb (embargoes, embargoing, embargoed)
[with object]-
1impose an official ban on (trade or a country or commodity): all of these countries have been embargoed by the US
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officially ban the publication of: documents of national security importance are routinely embargoed
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2 archaic seize (a ship or goods) for state service: they must embargo means of transport
