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, tabu [təˈbuː]

adj

1. (Sociology) forbidden or disapproved of; placed under a social prohibition or ban taboo words

2. (Social Science / Anthropology & Ethnology) (in Polynesia and other islands of the South Pacific) marked off as simultaneously sacred and forbidden

n pl -boos, -bus

1. (Sociology) any prohibition resulting from social or other conventions

2. (Social Science / Anthropology & Ethnology) ritual restriction or prohibition, esp of something that is considered holy or unclean

vb

(tr) to place under a taboo

[from 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

noun

prohibition, ban, restriction, disapproval, anathema, interdict, proscription Not all men respect the taboo against bedding a friend's woman.

adjective

forbidden, banned, prohibited, ruled out, not allowed, unacceptable, outlawed, unthinkable, not permitted, disapproved of, anathema, off limits, frowned on, proscribed, beyond the pale, unmentionable Cancer is a taboo subject.
forbidden allowed, permitted, sanctioned, acceptable

Translations

taboo tabu [təˈbuː]

A. ADJ (socially) → tabú; (religiously) → sagrado
the subject is taboo → el asunto es tema tabú

B. N (social) → tabú m

C. VT → declarar tabú, prohibir

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taboo [təˈbuː]

adj → tabou(e)
Cancer is a taboo subject → Le cancer est un sujet tabou.

n → tabou m
a taboo on sth → un tabou sur qch

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taboo, tabu

n → Tabu nt; to be a taboo → tabu sein, unter einem Tabu stehen

adj → tabu; taboo words → Tabuwörter pl

vt → für tabu erklären, tabui(sier)eren

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taboo [təˈbuː] adj & n → tabù (m) inv

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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. taboe مُحَرَّم табу tabu tabu das Tabu, tabu ταμπού tabú tabu تابو؛ حرام tabu tabou אִיסוּר वर्जित कर्म tabu tabu haram, tabu bannaður, forboðinn tabù タブー 금기, 금기의 tabu tabu dilarang taboe tabu(forestilling) tabu, rzecz zakazana tabu tabu табу; запрещённый tabu tabu tabu tabu ข้อห้าม; ซึ่งต้องห้าม tabu, yasak 禁忌 табу; заборона حرام، ممنوع điều cấm kỵ 禁忌

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taboo → محرمات مقدسات, معزول بوصفه محرما tabu, tabuový tabu, tabubelagt tabu ταμπού tabú tabu, tabu- tabou tabu tabù タブー, タブーとなっている 금기, 금지된 taboe tabu zakaz, zakazany tabu запретный, табу tabu, tabuförklarad ข้อห้าม, ซึ่งต้องห้าม tabu cấm kỵ, điều cấm kỵ 禁忌, 禁忌的