duty on imports or exports the government department responsible for the collection of these duties the part of a port, airport, frontier station, etc, where baggage and freight are examined for dutiable goods and contraband
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
cus•tom /ˈkʌstəm/USA pronunciation
n.
adj. [before a noun]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- 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. - Government customs,
- 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.
cus•tom
(kus′təm),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
- 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. - Government customs:
- 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 Unabridged 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.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'customs duty' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):