taboo

Meanings

Plural: taboos

Noun

a prejudice (especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands) that prohibits the use or mention of something because of its sacred nature
an inhibition or ban resulting from social custom or emotional aversion
An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion.
Something which may not be used, approached or mentioned because it is sacred.

Verb

declare as sacred and forbidden
To mark as taboo.
To ban.
To avoid.

Adjective Satellite

excluded from use or mention
- "a taboo subject"
forbidden to profane use especially in South Pacific islands

Adj

Excluded or forbidden from use, approach or mention.
Culturally forbidden.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from Tongan tapu (“prohibited, sacred”), from Proto-Polynesian *tapu, from Proto-Oceanic *tabu, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *tambu. Doublet of kapu. First attested in c. 1777.
The p in the Tongan source was misheard as b.

Synonyms

forbidden, out, prohibited, proscribed, tabooize, tabu, verboten

Scrabble Score: 7

taboo is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
taboo is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
taboo is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

taboo is a valid Words With Friends word