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Taboo

//təˈbuː// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective

1
Excluded or forbidden from use, approach or mention.
"Incest is a taboo subject in most soap operas."
2
Culturally forbidden.

Adjective

1
excluded from use or mention wordnet
2
forbidden to profane use especially in South Pacific islands wordnet

Noun

1
An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion. countable, uncountable
"It is true indeed that a taboo - in order to be a proper taboo - must not rest in the general mind on argument or reason."
2
an inhibition or ban resulting from social custom or emotional aversion wordnet
3
Something which may not be used, approached or mentioned because it is sacred. countable, uncountable
4
a prejudice (especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands) that prohibits the use or mention of something because of its sacred nature wordnet

Verb

1
To mark as taboo.
2
declare as sacred and forbidden wordnet
3
To ban.
4
To avoid.

Etymology

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Tongan tapu (“prohibited, sacred”), from Proto-Polynesian *tapu, from Proto-Oceanic *tabu, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *tambu. Doublet of kapu. First attested in c. 1777. The p in the Tongan source was misheard as b.

Etymology 2

Etymology 3

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