customs

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The duties or taxes imposed on imported or exported goods.

   Customs of £200 were due on all the wine we took back from France.

2. 2
   noun

   The government department or agency that is authorised to collect the taxes imposed on imported goods.

   Customs stopped us in the airport for an inspection.

3. 3
   noun

   The process of going through customs checks at a border checkpoint.

   They usually don't care about customs, but she was clearly planning on selling most of it.

4. 4
   noun

   The location at a border checkpoint where customs checks are carried out.

   "You said someone from Cubetown was gonna meet us here at the airport?" "Yeah. We go through customs, then they'll meet us outside baggage claim."

5. 5
   noun

   money collected under a tariff

6. 6
   noun

   plural of custom

7. 7
   verb

   third-person singular simple present indicative of custom

Etymology

Plural of custom. Perhaps influenced by or taken as a corruption of customhouse, from Middle English custome hous.