I. cus ‧ tom 1 W3 /ˈkʌstəm/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ customary , ↑ custom , ↑ customizable , ↑ accustomed ; noun : ↑ custom , ↑ customer , customs; verb : ↑ accustom , ↑ customize ; adverb : ↑ customarily ]
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: custume , from Latin consuetudo , from consuescere 'to make someone used to something' ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] something that is done by people in a particular society because it is traditional ⇨ tradition
local/ancient/French etc custom
The guide offers information on local customs.
it is the custom (for somebody) to do something
It’s the custom for the bride’s father to pay for the wedding.
the custom of doing something
The custom of naming women after flowers is becoming less common.
2 . [singular] formal something that you usually do every day, or in a particular situation SYN habit :
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.
You won’t be able to take that through customs.
b) the government department that checks goods coming into a country and collects any taxes on them:
customs officers
the US customs service
4 . [uncountable] formal 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.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + custom
▪ a local custom
We were unfamiliar with the local customs.
▪ an old/ancient/age-old custom
Here on the island, many of the old customs have survived.
▪ an established custom
He had criticized some of the school’s established customs.
▪ a traditional custom
The children learn about traditional customs, crafts, music, and dance.
▪ a social custom
Our people do not want to imitate western social customs.
▪ a French/Greek etc custom
The Spanish custom is to add the mother’s surname after the father’s.
▪ a tribal custom
He spoke four African languages and knew most of the tribal customs.
▪ burial customs (=things done when someone dies and is buried)
the diversity of burial customs in different parts of the world
■ verbs
▪ follow/observe a custom (=do something that is part of a custom)
Following a Chinese custom, Deng changed his given name to mark the occasion.
▪ respect a custom
Strangers should respect the customs of the country they are in.
▪ a custom survives (=continues to be followed)
The custom of slaughtering an animal to welcome guests still survives in some areas.
▪ a custom dies out/disappears (=gradually stops being done)
Sometimes the streets are decorated with flower petals, although this custom is dying out.
• • •
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.
II. custom 2 BrE AmE adjective [only before noun] especially American English
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ customary , ↑ custom , ↑ customizable , ↑ accustomed ; noun : ↑ custom , ↑ customer , customs; verb : ↑ accustom , ↑ customize ; adverb : ↑ customarily ]
custom products or services are specially designed and made for a particular person SYN bespoke :
His son operates a custom furniture business.