tax

noun

• 1a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers' income and business profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions: higher taxes will dampen consumer spending a tax on fuel [mass noun]:they will have to pay tax on interest earned by savings [as modifier]:a tax bill [as modifier]: tax cuts

• 2 [in singular] a strain or heavy demand:a heavy tax on the reader’s attention

verb

• 1impose a tax on (someone or something):the income will be taxed at the top rate
• pay tax on (something, especially a vehicle): the Land Rover slowly disintegrates and no one has bothered to tax it

• 2make heavy demands on (someone’s powers or resources):she knew that the ordeal to come must tax all her strength

• 3confront (someone) with a fault or wrongdoing:why are you taxing me with these preposterous allegations?

• 4 Law examine and assess (the costs of a case): an officer taxing a bill of costs