(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is an official rule that limits what you can do or that limits the amount or size of something.
...the lifting of ~s on political parties and the news media...
N-COUNT: oft N on n
2.
You can refer to anything that limits what you can do as a ~.
His parents are trying to make up to him for the ~s of urban living...
= limitation
N-COUNT
3.
see also restrict