customs — the official department that administers and collects the duties levied by a government on imported goods
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the official department that administers and collects the duties levied by a government on imported goods
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkʌstəmz/
Example Sentences
- The customs officer found three bottles of expensive perfume hidden in my grandmother's knitting bag.
- According to local customs, you should never refuse a cup of tea from your host.
- He tried to smuggle 50 boxes of chocolates past customs by disguising them as books.
customs
NOUN[/ˈkʌstəmz/]
the official department that administers and collects the duties levied by a government on imported goods
Travelers wait in line at customs while officers inspect luggage at the airport.
Customs systems create endless problems!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Medieval Latin consuetudo, meaning 'habit' or 'practice,' which passed through Old French custume before reaching its modern English form. The word originally referred to repeated or habitual actions, later acquiring the sense of 'duties levied on goods' or 'tariffs.'
Breakdown
consuetudo (Latin: 'habit, practice') → custume (Old French) → custom (Middle English) → customs (plural). The suffix -s marks the plural form, denoting multiple established practices or tax duties.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The customs officer found three bottles of expensive perfume hidden in my grandmother's knitting bag.”
“According to local customs, you should never refuse a cup of tea from your host.”
“He tried to smuggle 50 boxes of chocolates past customs by disguising them as books.”
“Wedding customs vary significantly from country to country.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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