TABOO

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does taboo mean? 

• TABOO (noun)
  The noun TABOO has 2 senses:

1. a prejudice (especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands) that prohibits the use or mention of something because of its sacred nature

2. an inhibition or ban resulting from social custom or emotional aversion

  Familiarity information: TABOO used as a noun is rare.

• TABOO (adjective)
  The adjective TABOO has 2 senses:

1. excluded from use or mention

2. forbidden to profane use especially in South Pacific islands

  Familiarity information: TABOO used as an adjective is rare.

• TABOO (verb)
  The verb TABOO has 1 sense:

1. declare as sacred and forbidden

  Familiarity information: TABOO used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TABOO (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A prejudice (especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands) that prohibits the use or mention of something because of its sacred nature

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

taboo; tabu

Hypernyms ("taboo" is a kind of...):

bias; preconception; prejudice (a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation)

Domain region:

Polynesia (the islands in the eastern part of Oceania)

Derivation:

taboo (declare as sacred and forbidden)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An inhibition or ban resulting from social custom or emotional aversion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

taboo; tabu

Hypernyms ("taboo" is a kind of...):

inhibition (the quality of being inhibited)

Derivation:

taboo (declare as sacred and forbidden)

• TABOO (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Excluded from use or mention

Synonyms:

forbidden; out; prohibited; proscribed; taboo; tabu; verboten

Context example:

a taboo subject

Similar:

impermissible (not permitted)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Forbidden to profane use especially in South Pacific islands

Synonyms:

taboo; tabu

Similar:

sacred (concerned with religion or religious purposes)

• TABOO (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they taboo    ... he / she / it taboos   
Past simple: tabooed   
Past participle: tabooed   
-ing form: tabooing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Declare as sacred and forbidden

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "taboo" is one way to...):

control; restrict (place under restrictions; limit access to by law)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

taboo (an inhibition or ban resulting from social custom or emotional aversion)

taboo (a prejudice (especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands) that prohibits the use or mention of something because of its sacred nature)

 Context examples 

And thus he learned that there was no taboo on jackrabbits.

(White Fang, by Jack London)