Topic: TRADE
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| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | custume, from Latin consuetudo, from consuescere 'to make someone used to something' |
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cus‧tom1 W3
1 [uncountable and countable] something that is done by people in a particular society because it is traditional
it is the custom (for somebody) to do something It's the custom for the bride's father to pay for the wedding.
It's the custom for the bride's father to pay for the wedding.2 [singular] formal something that you usually do every day, or in a particular situation : He awoke early, as was his custom.
He awoke early, as was his custom.3
customs
[plural]a) the place where your bags are checked for illegal goods when you go into a country [↪ immigration]: She was stopped at customs and questioned. It took ages to clear customs (=be allowed through customs) but then we were out of the airport quite quickly.
She was stopped at customs and questioned.It took ages to clear customs (=be allowed through customs) but then we were out of the airport quite quickly.b) the government department that checks goods coming into a country and collects any taxes on them : customs officers the US customs service
customs officersthe US customs service4 [uncountable] formalBBT the practice of regularly using a particular shop or business : an advertisement to attract more custom Smaller shops lose a lot of custom when supermarkets open nearby.
an advertisement to attract more customSmaller shops lose a lot of custom when supermarkets open nearby.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
habit, custom, tradition, practiceA habit is something that you do often, because you have done it many times before.Do not use habit when you are talking about actions or ways of doing things that have existed among a group of people for a very long time. Use tradition or custom. Use tradition when the thing you are referring to has existed for many years, especially when it has been passed down from parents to children • It is a tradition in his family for all first-born males to be called Peter. Use custom to refer to something that is considered normal or polite, especially when you are talking about other countries or other times • the Japanese custom of taking off your shoes when you enter someone's house Use practice to talk about the usual way of doing something in a particular area of life • the practice of killing animals for their fur ➔ See also habit
WORD CHOICE: habit, custom, tradition, practiceA habit is something that you do often, because you have done it many times before.Do not use habit when you are talking about actions or ways of doing things that have existed among a group of people for a very long time. Use tradition or custom. Use tradition when the thing you are referring to has existed for many years, especially when it has been passed down from parents to children • It is a tradition in his family for all first-born males to be called Peter. Use custom to refer to something that is considered normal or polite, especially when you are talking about other countries or other times • the Japanese custom of taking off your shoes when you enter someone's house Use practice to talk about the usual way of doing something in a particular area of life • the practice of killing animals for their fur ➔ See also habit
