Definitions for Taboo
təˈbu, tæ-taboo

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.2 / 5 votes

1. taboo, tabunoun

   a prejudice (especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands) that prohibits the use or mention of something because of its sacred nature

2. taboo, tabuadjective

   an inhibition or ban resulting from social custom or emotional aversion

3. forbidden, out(p), prohibited, proscribed, taboo, tabu, verbotenadjective

   excluded from use or mention

   "forbidden fruit"; "in our house dancing and playing cards were out"; "a taboo subject"

4. taboo, tabuverb

   forbidden to profane use especially in South Pacific islands

5. tabooverb

   declare as sacred and forbidden

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.6 / 5 votes

1. taboonoun

   An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion.

2. taboonoun

   Something which may not be used, approached or mentioned because it is sacred.

3. tabooverb

   To mark as taboo.

4. tabooverb

   To ban.

5. tabooverb

   To avoid.

6. tabooadjective

   Excluded or forbidden from use, approach or mention.

   Incest is a taboo subject in most soap operas.

7. Etymology: tapu. The word entered English around 1777. Ultimately from tapu.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Taboo

   A taboo or tabu is a social group's ban, prohibition, or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, offensive, sacred, or allowed only for certain persons. Such prohibitions are present in virtually all societies. Taboos may be prohibited explicitly, for example within a legal system or religion, or implicitly, for example by social norms or conventions followed by a particular culture or organization. Taboos are often meant to protect the individual, but there are other reasons for their development. An ecological or medical background is apparent in many, including some that are seen as religious or spiritual in origin. Taboos can help use a resource more efficiently, but when applied to only a subsection of the community they can also serve to suppress said subsection of the community. A taboo acknowledged by a particular group or tribe as part of their ways aids in the cohesion of the group, helps that particular group to stand out and maintain its identity in the face of others and therefore creates a feeling of "belonging".The meaning of the word "taboo" has been somewhat expanded in the social sciences to strong prohibitions relating to any area of human activity or custom that is sacred or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs, or cultural norms. "Breaking a taboo" is usually considered objectionable by society in general, not merely a subset of a culture.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. taboo

   Taboo refers to a social or cultural prohibition or restriction that forbids certain behaviors, subjects, or words due to religious or societal norms. These prohibitions are considered unacceptable or inappropriate to talk about or act upon, and could lead to social consequences, criticism, or sanctions when violated.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Taboonoun

   a total prohibition of intercourse with, use of, or approach to, a given person or thing under pain of death, -- an interdict of religious origin and authority, formerly common in the islands of Polynesia; interdiction

2. Tabooverb

   to put under taboo; to forbid, or to forbid the use of; to interdict approach to, or use of; as, to taboo the ground set apart as a sanctuary for criminals

WikidataRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. Taboo

   A taboo is a vehement prohibition of an action based on the belief that such behavior is either too sacred or too accursed for ordinary individuals to undertake, under threat of supernatural punishment. Such prohibitions are present in virtually all societies. The word has been somewhat expanded in the social sciences to include strong prohibitions relating to any area of human activity or custom that is sacred or forbidden based on moral judgment and religious beliefs. "Breaking a taboo" is usually considered objectionable by society in general, not merely a subset of a culture.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Taboo

   Tabu, ta-bōō′, n. an institution among the Polynesians, forming a penal system based on religious sanctions, by which certain things are held sacred or consecrated, and hence prohibited to be used—by a natural transference of meaning by association of ideas becoming equivalent to 'unholy,' 'accursed'—also Tamboo′, Tambu′, and Tapu′: any prohibition, interdict, restraint, ban, exclusion, ostracism.—v.t. to forbid approach to: to forbid the use of:—pr.p. tabōō′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. tabōōed′. [Polynesian tapu—prob. ta, to mark, pu, expressing intensity.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Taboo

   or Tabu, a solemn prohibition or interdict among the Polynesians under which a particular person or thing is pronounced inviolable, and so sacred, the violation of which entails malediction at the hands of the supernatural powers.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:2.5 / 2 votes

1. Taboo

   Any negative tradition or behavior that is generally regarded as harmful to social welfare and forbidden within a cultural or social group.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. tabooverb

   A controlled surface of power with authority using a document or page that can be opened on a spreadsheet or Internet browser to show approval, disapproval or contempt to enforce a rule. 1.) A social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing. Designated as sacred and prohibited.

   Ownership places a sovereign in leadership to be taboo in their rule.

   Etymology: Addiction

   
   

   Submitted by Tehorah_Elyon on March 14, 2024  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. taboo

   Song lyrics by taboo -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by taboo on the Lyrics.com website.

Etymology and OriginsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Taboo

   Strictly speaking, there is no such word as “tabooed,” yet we generally find it employed in the place of “taboo.” The latter is the European rendering of the Polynesian tapu, signifying a thing reserved or consecrated to the use of one person. For a South Sea Islander to exclaim tapu when he sees anything that he fancies, is tantamount to saying “I claim this thing; anyone else who touches it shall die.” Amongst ourselves a subject which is taboo must not be discussed.

Matched Categories

1. • Restrict

Anagrams for Taboo »

1. aboot

How to pronounce Taboo?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Taboo in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Taboo in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Taboo in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of Taboo in a Sentence

1. Segolene Royal:

   The question of sending ground troops is not yet on the table... but obviously nothing is taboo.

2. Rashid Rashid:

   The people think that the musical methods and singing may lead to dancing, so they may not accept it, before we adopted this method at all of the schools, we chose 25 schools and made it clear to the headmasters that the musical method is not taboo and not shameful.

3. Emma McIntyre:

   I was proud to put a spotlight on the LGBTQ+ community with my ‘Beautiful’ music video, which features a gay couple, as well as a trans woman. I wasn’t thinking too much about it beyond wanting to show people owning who they are, it was somehow taboo at the time, but it represented something so true. I still hear stories about how that video has helped people, and it means everything to me.

4. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei:

   The key to solving (Iran's) economic problems is ... inside the country, if pens and papers on the desks, to construction materials and anything else can be produced in the country, it should be forbidden and considered a taboo.

5. David Flink:

   It was lightning in a bottle, all of a sudden, all this stuff that we thought was really taboo and doesn't sound good -- we discovered they were just words. Under all of that was potential.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Taboo
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Taboo
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taboo
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Taboo
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Taboo
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=Taboo
8. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Taboo
9. ^ Etymology and Origins
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/54657/pg54657-images.html#:~:text=Taboo