Tao

1
[ dou, tou ]

noun(sometimes lowercase)Philosophy.
  1. (in philosophical Taoism) that in virtue of which all things happen or exist.

  2. the rational basis of human activity or conduct.

  1. a universal, regarded as an ideal attained to a greater or lesser degree by those embodying it.

Origin of Tao

1
First recorded in 1730–40; from Chinese (Wade-Giles) Tao4, (pinyin) dào literally, “path, way, right way”

Words Nearby Tao

Other definitions for Tao (2 of 2)

Tao2
[ tou ]

noun

Origin of Tao

2
From Tao: literally, “human being”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use Tao in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Tao

Tao

/ (taʊ) /


noun(in the philosophy of Taoism)
  1. that in virtue of which all things happen or exist

  2. the rational basis of human conduct

  1. the course of life and its relation to eternal truth

Origin of Tao

1
Chinese, literally: path, way

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012