noun
tax
taks
noun
1
Money that a government requires people or businesses to pay, used to fund public services.
"Income tax is deducted directly from most people's wages."
"The government raised tax on fuel this year."
verb
1
To require someone to pay tax, or to charge tax on something.
"Cigarettes are taxed heavily to discourage smoking."
2
To place a heavy strain or demand on something.
"The extra shifts really taxed her patience."
How to Use Tax
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMoney owed to the government, or, more loosely, anything that puts a heavy strain on you.
Common pairings
pay tax
tax return
tax someone's patience
Word Forms
taxed past tense, taxes plural, taxes singular
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Income _____ is deducted directly from most people's wages.
Etymology
From Latin taxare ("to assess, estimate"), via Old French taxe — a doublet of the word "task."