a habitual practice; the usual way of acting:[countable]It was a custom of mine to get coffee every morning.
such ways of acting when thought of as a group; convention; tradition:[uncountable]a slave to custom.
Governmentcustoms,
Lawduties or fees imposed by law on imported or exported goods: [uncountable; used with a singular verb]Customs isn't too much on that new car, is it?[plural* used with a plural verb]The customs on that product are very high in my country.
[uncountable* used with a singular verb] the government department that collects these duties:Customs is very particular about that brand of car as an import here.
[uncountable* used with a singular verb] the section of an airport, etc., where baggage is checked for illegally imported goods and for goods subject to the payment of duty:Which way is customs?
adj.[before a noun]
made specially for individual customers: custom shoes.
dealing in things so made, or doing work to order: a custom tailor.
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 way of acting, seen over and over again in tradition and social attitudes: the custom of giving gifts at Christmas. habit, applied particularly to an individual, implies repetition of the same action resulting from a natural or deep tendency or inclination to perform it: He has an annoying habit of interrupting the speaker. practice applies to a regularly followed procedure or pattern in doing things: It is his practice to verify all statements.
a habitual practice; the usual way of acting in given circumstances.
habits or usages collectively; convention.
a practice so long established that it has the force of law.
such practices collectively.
Sociologya group pattern of habitual activity usually transmitted from one generation to another.
toll; duty.
Governmentcustoms:
Law(used with a sing. or pl. v.) duties imposed by law on imported or, less commonly, exported goods.
(used with a sing. v.) the government department that collects these duties.
(used with a sing. v.) the section of an airport, station, etc., where baggage is checked for contraband and for goods subject to duty.
regular patronage of a particular shop, restaurant, etc.
the customers or patrons of a business firm, collectively.
the aggregate of customers.
Medieval History, World History(in medieval Europe) a customary tax, tribute, or service owed by peasants to their lord.
adj.
made specially for individual customers:custom shoes.
dealing in things so made, or doing work to order:a custom tailor.
Vulgar Latin *co(n)s(uē)tūmin-, replacing Latin consuētūdin- (stem of consuētūdō), equivalent. to consuēt(us) accustomed, past participle of consuēscere (con-con- + suē- (akin to suus one's own) + -tus past participle suffix) + -ūdin- noun, nominal suffix; compare costume
Anglo-French; Old French costume
Middle English custume 1150–1200
1, 2.See corresponding entry in UnabridgedCustom,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.