Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
customs - 2 dictionary results

cus⋅tom

[kuhs-tuhm]
–noun
1. a habitual practice; the usual way of acting in given circumstances.
2. habits or usages collectively; convention.
3. a practice so long established that it has the force of law.
4. such practices collectively.
5. Sociology. a group pattern of habitual activity usually transmitted from one generation to another.
6. toll; duty.
7. customs,
a. (used with a singular or plural verb) duties imposed by law on imported or, less commonly, exported goods.
b. (used with a singular verb) the government department that collects these duties.
c. (used with a singular verb) the section of an airport, station, etc., where baggage is checked for contraband and for goods subject to duty.
8. regular patronage of a particular shop, restaurant, etc.
9. the customers or patrons of a business firm, collectively.
10. the aggregate of customers.
11. (in medieval Europe) a customary tax, tribute, or service owed by peasants to their lord.
–adjective
12. made specially for individual customers: custom shoes.
13. dealing in things so made, or doing work to order: a custom tailor.

Origin:
1150–1200; ME custume < AF; OF costume < VL *co(n)s()tūmin-, r. L consuētūdin- (s. of consuētūdō), equiv. to consuēt(us) accustomed, ptp. of consuēscere (con- con- + suē- (akin to suus one's own) + -tus ptp. suffix) + -ūdin- n. suffix; cf. costume


1, 2. Custom, habit, practice mean an established way of doing things. Custom, applied to a community or to an individual, implies a more or less permanent continuance of a social usage: It is the custom to give gifts at Christmas time. Habit, applied particularly to an individual, implies such repetition of the same action as to develop a natural, spontaneous, or rooted tendency or inclination to perform it: to make a habit of reading the newspapers. Practice applies to a set of fixed habits or an ordered procedure in conducting activities: It is his practice to verify all statements.
cus·tom   (kŭs'təm)   
n.  
  1. A practice followed by people of a particular group or region.
  2. A habitual practice of a person: my custom of reading a little before sleep. See Synonyms at habit.
  3. Law A common tradition or usage so long established that it has the force or validity of law.
    1. Habitual patronage, as of a store.
    2. Habitual customers; patrons.
    3. Duties or taxes imposed on imported and, less commonly, exported goods.
    4. (used with a sing. verb) The governmental agency authorized to collect these duties.
    5. (used with a sing. verb) The procedure for inspecting goods and baggage entering a country.
  4. customs
    1. Duties or taxes imposed on imported and, less commonly, exported goods.
    2. (used with a sing. verb) The governmental agency authorized to collect these duties.
    3. (used with a sing. verb) The procedure for inspecting goods and baggage entering a country.
  5. Tribute, service, or rent paid by a feudal tenant to a lord.
adj.  
  1. Made to order.
  2. Specializing in the making or selling of made-to-order goods: a custom tailor.

[Middle English custume, from Old French costume, from Latin cōnsuētūdō, cōnsuētūdin-, from cōnsuētus, past participle of cōnsuēscere, to accustom : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + suēscere, to become accustomed; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots.]
Search another word or see customs on Thesaurus | Reference
>