/ ˈkʌstəmz; NAmE / noun [ pl. ]
1.
(usually Customs ) ( BrE also Customs and Excise ) ( US also US Customs Service ) the government department that collects taxes on goods bought and sold and on goods brought into the country, and that checks what is brought in :
The Customs have seized large quantities of smuggled heroin.
a customs officer
HELP NOTE : NAmE uses a singular verb with customs in this meaning.
2.
the place at a port or an airport where your bags are checked as you come into a country :
to go through customs and passport control
3.
the taxes that must be paid to the government when goods are brought in from other countries :
to pay customs on sth
customs duty / duties
➡ note at tax
—compare excise
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : originally in the singular, denoting a customary due paid to a ruler, later duty charged on goods on their way to market .