variants:
or less commonly tabu
Definition of taboo
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: banned on grounds of morality or taste
the subject is taboo
b
: banned as constituting a risk
the area beyond is taboo, still alive with explosives— Robert Leckie
2
: forbidden to profane use or contact because of what are held to be dangerous supernatural powers
taboo
noun
variants:
or less commonly tabu
plural taboos also tabus
Definition of taboo (Entry 2 of 3)
1a
: a prohibition imposed by social custom or as a protective measure
… they may have developed a taboo against eating fish.— Jared Diamond
b
: something that is not acceptable to say, mention, or do : something that is taboo
… the tacticians in a conservative Republican Administration now deem membership in the club a taboo. — Peter J. Boyer
2
: a prohibition against touching, saying, or doing something for fear of immediate harm from a supernatural force
3
: belief in taboos
taboo
verb
variants:
or less commonly tabu
tabooed also tabued; tabooing also tabuing; taboos also tabus
Definition of taboo (Entry 3 of 3)
1
: to set apart as taboo especially by marking with a ritualistic symbol
2
: to avoid or ban as taboo
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for taboo
The first known use of taboo was in 1777
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