taboo

ta·boo also ta·bu  (t-b, t-)

n. pl. ta·boos also ta·bus

1. A ban or an inhibition resulting from social custom or emotional aversion.

2.

a. A prohibition, especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands, excluding something from use, approach, or mention because of its sacred and inviolable nature.

b. An object, a word, or an act protected by such a prohibition.

adj.

Excluded or forbidden from use, approach, or mention: a taboo subject.

tr.v. ta·booed also ta·bued, ta·boo·ing also ta·bu·ing, ta·boos also ta·bus

To exclude from use, approach, or mention; place under taboo.

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[Tongan tabu, under prohibition.]

Word History: Among the many discoveries of Captain James Cook was a linguistic one, the term taboo. In a journal entry from 1777, Cook says this word "has a very comprehensive meaning; but, in general, signifies that a thing is forbidden.... When any thing is forbidden to be eat, or made use of, they say, that it is taboo." Cook was in the Friendly Islands (now Tonga) at the time, so even though similar words occur in other Polynesian languages, the form taboo from Tongan tabu is the one we have borrowed. The Tongans used tabu as an adjective. Cook, besides borrowing the word into English, also made it into a noun referring to the prohibition itself and a verb meaning "to make someone or something taboo." From its origins in Polynesia the word taboo has traveled as widely as Cook himself and is now used throughout the English-speaking world.

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taboo or tabu

Noun

pl -boos or -bus

1. a restriction or prohibition resulting from social or other conventions

2. a ritual prohibition, esp. of something that is considered holy or unclean

Adjective

forbidden or disapproved-of: a taboo subject [Tongan tapu]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	taboo - a prejudice (especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands) that prohibits the use or mention of something because of its sacred nature tabu bias, prejudice, preconception - a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation Polynesia - the islands in the eastern part of Oceania
	2.	taboo - an inhibition or ban resulting from social custom or emotional aversion tabu inhibition - the quality of being inhibited
Verb	1.	taboo - declare as sacred and forbidden restrict - place under restrictions; limit access to; "This substance is controlled"
Adj.	1.	taboo - excluded from use or mention; "forbidden fruit"; "in our house dancing and playing cards were out"; "a taboo subject" forbidden, prohibited, proscribed, verboten, tabu, out impermissible - not permitted; "impermissible behavior"
	2.	taboo - forbidden to profane use especially in South Pacific islands tabu sacred - concerned with religion or religious purposes; "sacred texts"; "sacred rites"; "sacred music"

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taboo or tabu

adjective 1. forbidden, banned, prohibited, ruled out, not allowed, unacceptable, outlawed, unthinkable, not permitted, disapproved of, anathema, off limits, frowned on, proscribed, beyond the pale, unmentionable << OPPOSITE permitted

noun 2. prohibition, ban, restriction, disapproval, anathema, interdict, proscription, tapu N.Z.

Translations

taboo [təˈbuː] adj, n → tabú m

taboo [təˈbuː] adj, n → tabou (m)

taboo [təˈbuː] n → Tabu nt

adj → tabu;

a taboo subject/word → ein Tabuthema/Tabuwort

taboo [təˈbuː] adj, n → tabù m inv

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taboo

n / adj taboo, tabu [təˈbuː]

(something) forbidden for religious reasons or because it is against social custom Alcohol is (a) taboo in Muslim societies.taboeمُحَرَّمтабуtabutabudas Tabu, tabuταμπούtabútabuتابو؛ حرامtabutabouאִיסוּרवर्जित कर्मtabutabuharam, tabubannaður, forboðinntabùタブー금기(의)tabutabudilarangtaboetabu(forestilling)tabu, rzecz zakazanatabutabuтабу; запрещённыйtabutabutabutabuข้อห้าม; ซึ่งต้องห้ามtabu, yasak禁忌табу; заборонаحرام، ممنوعđiều cấm kỵ禁忌