I. em ‧ bar ‧ go 1 /ɪmˈbɑːɡəʊ $ -ˈbɑːrɡoʊ/ BrE AmE noun ( plural embargoes ) [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Spanish ; Origin: embargar 'to stop, prevent, seize' ]
an official order to stop trade with another country SYN boycott , sanctions
embargo on/against
an embargo on wheat exports
an embargo against the country
impose/lift an embargo (=start or end one)
Many allies are pushing to lift the embargo.
trade/arms/oil etc embargo
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ place/impose an embargo on something (=start an embargo)
The UN imposed an embargo on trade with the military regime.
▪ lift/end an embargo (=stop an embargo)
Britain favours lifting the embargo on humanitarian grounds.
▪ break an embargo (=trade with a country illegally when there is an embargo)
It has been almost impossible to stop countries breaking the embargo.
▪ tighten an embargo (=make an embargo stricter and more difficult to break)
We are taking further action to tighten the embargo.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + embargo
▪ a complete/total embargo
There is a complete embargo on arms sales to governments that violate human rights.
▪ a strict embargo (=one that must be obeyed)
The new measures include a strict embargo on fuel.
▪ a trade embargo
The EU has threatened to impose a trade embargo on the US.
▪ an economic embargo (=one that does not allow any trade or financial business with a country)
He asked for an immediate end to the economic embargo imposed last year.
▪ an arms embargo (=one that stops weapons being sold or sent to a country)
Ministers knew that the arms embargo was being broken.
▪ an international embargo (=one that a group of countries agree to impose together)
Under the terms of the international embargo, medical aid can still be flown into the capital.
II. embargo 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 . to officially stop particular goods being traded with another country SYN boycott :
Several countries embargoed arms shipments to Yugoslavia.
2 . to stop information from being made public until a particular date or until permission is given SYN censor