custom
[noun]
Synonyms:
- tradition, convention, policy, practice, ritual, rule, usage
- habit, practice, procedure, routine, way, wont
- customers, patronage, trade

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Contrasted words: departure, deviation, shift, exception, irregularity
Related Idioms: matter of course
Related Words: precedent, ritual, mold, fixture, institution, prescription, rubric, canon, law, precept, rule

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English Thesaurus: habit, mannerism, custom, tradition, practice, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. cus‧tom¹ W3 /ˈkʌstəm/ 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 Synonym : 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.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. custom² 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 Synonym : bespoke:
His son operates a custom furniture business.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

custom- /kʌstəm/ prefix
custom-made/custom-built/custom-designed etc made, built etc for a particular person:
custom-made suit
custom-ordered vehicles

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

custom
noun
ADJ. accepted, age-old, ancient, established, old, traditional | quaint | local | social
VERB + CUSTOM follow, observe, respect They still follow the custom of pinning money to the bride's dress.
maintain, preserve, revive
CUSTOM + VERB die out, disappear The custom died out in the nineteenth century.
prevail, survive These customs still prevail in remote areas.
PREP. according to a/the ~, in accordance with (a/the) ~ They poured wine round the trees in accordance with local custom.
through ~ The rules have grown up through custom and are not laid down by law.
~ of
PHRASES as is/was the custom People threw coins onto the stage, as was the custom.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

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
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.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

custom
noun
1.
BAD: I went there hoping to learn something about Indian culture and custom.
GOOD: I went there hoping to learn something about Indian culture and customs.

Usage Note:
You talk about a country's customs (WITH s ): 'In Hong Kong I learned a lot about Chinese customs.'
CULTURE · CUSTOM · HABIT · MANNER · MANNERS · TRADITION
Culture (1) the customs, ideas, art, etc, which are found in a particular society or group and which make it different from another society or group: ‘Obeying your parents is a hallmark of Asian culture.’
(2) the art, music, literature, etc, that is produced by a particular society: ‘Professor Jackson is an expert on ancient Greek culture:’ ‘The Samba is an important part of Brazilian culture.’
Custom (1) something that the people in a particular society have done (in the same way) for a very long time, and which they consider to be normal or polite: ‘One of their customs is to point with the thumb, not with the index finger.’ ‘According to local custom, his body was carried to the top of a hill and cremated.’ ‘His knowledge of Malay and Indonesian customs proved invaluable when we got to Bali.’
(2) something that a person usually does in a particular situation: ‘His custom of making detailed preparatory drawings makes him unique amongst 18th century British painters.’ ‘On Wednesday evening, as was his custom, he went for a long walk.’
Habit something that a person does repeatedly, often without realizing it: ‘She has a lot of little habits that I find really irritating.’ ‘In California I got into the habit of eating with just a fork.’
Manner (singular) the way someone behaves towards people: ‘She impressed us all with her business-like manner.’ ‘His cheerful face and polite manner have won him a lot of friends.’
Manners (plural) the way someone behaves towards people, especially when compared with what is accepted as polite behaviour: ‘The child has very good manners and always says thank you.’
Tradition a belief, custom or way of doing something that has been passed on from one generation to the next: ‘The tradition was that when a man died, all his wealth and possessions would go to the eldest son.’

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2.
BAD: He has a custom of coughing before he speaks.
GOOD: He has a habit of coughing before he speaks.
BAD: It's very difficult for people to change their customs.
GOOD: It's very difficult for people to change their habits.

Usage Note:
See language note above

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3.
BAD: Will I have to pay custom duty?
GOOD: Will I have to pay customs duty?

Usage Note:
customs (WITH s) = the place where your bags are examined when you enter a country: 'We got held up at the customs while they went through our suitcases.'
customs duty (WITH s ) = taxes that you have to pay to bring certain goods into a country: 'The customs duty on electrical goods is twenty percent of the retail price.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

habit something you do regularly, often without thinking about it:
Biting your nails is a bad habit.
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.
In many countries, it’s a tradition for the bride to wear white.
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.
practise British English, practice American English verb [intransitive and transitive] to do an activity many times in order to improve your skill or to prepare for a test:
The course will give you a chance to practise your language skills.
He was practising his golf swing.
You need to practise regularly if you're going to be a good piano player.
train verb [intransitive] to practise physical movements or activities in preparation for a race or game:
He's training for the Olympics.
rehearse verb [intransitive and transitive] to practise a play, speech, or music in preparation for a public performance:
She's in New York where she's rehearsing her new play.
The band are currently rehearsing for their world tour.
work on something to practise a particular skill so that your general performance improves:
You need to work on your listening comprehension.
go/run through something to practise something such as a speech, play, or piece of music by reading or playing it from the beginning to the end:
I'll just run through the speech one more time.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲