tra ‧ di ‧ tion S2 W2 /trəˈdɪʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ tradition , ↑ traditionalist , ↑ traditionalism ; adjective : ↑ traditional , ↑ traditionalist ; adverb : ↑ traditionally ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin traditio 'act of handing over' ; ⇨ ↑ traitor ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] a belief, custom, or way of doing something that has existed for a long time, or these beliefs, customs etc in general:
the traditions of South East Asia
the tradition that the eldest son inherits the property
By tradition, it’s the bride’s parents who pay for the wedding.
2 . (be) in the tradition of somebody/something to have the same features as something that has been made or done in the past:
His paintings are very much in the tradition of Picasso and Matisse.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives/NOUN + tradition
▪ a long tradition
This country has a long tradition of accepting political refugees.
▪ a time-honoured/long-standing tradition (=a long tradition)
In time-honoured tradition, they have a drink in every pub along the high street.
▪ a strong tradition
There is a strong tradition of sport at the school.
▪ an old/ancient tradition
In rural Wales, the old traditions persisted.
▪ a family tradition
According to family tradition, he must sing at his own wedding.
▪ a cultural/religious tradition
cultural traditions that date back many generations
▪ a local tradition
The villagers are all keen to preserve local traditions.
▪ American/British/Western etc tradition
The festival is a part of the Scottish tradition which is worth preserving.
■ verbs
▪ follow a tradition (=do what has been done before)
He followed the family tradition and became a doctor.
▪ maintain/carry on/continue/uphold a tradition (=make a tradition continue in the same way or at the same standard as before)
We maintain a tradition of cider making dating from Norman times.
▪ break with tradition (=not follow a tradition)
Why not break with tradition and study at Leeds, say, or London, instead of Oxford?
▪ establish a tradition
They are continuing a tradition established by the firm’s Victorian founder.
▪ be steeped in tradition (=have many traditions)
It is an area of the country steeped in tradition.
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THESAURUS
▪ habit something you do regularly, often without thinking about it:
Biting your nails is a bad habit.
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I always go to the same supermarket, out of habit.
▪ mannerism a way of speaking or a small movement of your face or body that is part of your usual behaviour:
Even her mannerisms are the same as her sister’s.
▪ custom something that people in a particular society do because it is traditional or the accepted thing to do:
In Japan it is the custom to take off your shoes when you enter a house.
▪ tradition a belief, custom, or way of doing something that has existed for a long time:
The tradition of giving Easter eggs goes back hundreds of years.
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In many countries, it’s a tradition for the bride to wear white.
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It was a family tradition to go for a walk on Christmas Day.
▪ practice something that people often do, especially as part of their work or daily life:
The hotel has ended the practice of leaving chocolates in guests’ rooms.