customs
n. uncountablen. the place at an airport or border where officers check your bags for illegal goods. It is also the government department that collects taxes on things brought into a country.
n. the official department or area at a national border where government officers inspect luggage and collect duties on imported goods.
We had to go through customs after our flight landed.
The officer at customs asked if I had any alcohol or tobacco to declare before letting me pass.
Stringent new regulations at customs have led to significant delays for international shipping companies trying to move perishable goods across the border.
Plural of custom. Perhaps influenced by or taken as a corruption of customhouse, from Middle English custome hous.
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Almost always used in the plural form 'customs' when referring to the border control department or area.
I waited at the custom for an hourI waited at customs for an hourThe word for border control must be plural; the singular 'custom' refers to a tradition or habit.