ENGLISH
REFERENCE

taxes

n. · v.
US //ˈtæksəz// tax·es
  1. 1 government money (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    money that you must pay to the government so they can pay for things like schools and roads.

    compulsory financial charges or other levies imposed upon a taxpayer by a governmental organisation.

    Example

    The government promised not to raise income taxes for the next four years.

    Example

    Economists argue that progressive taxes are essential for reducing wealth inequality while maintaining sufficient funding for public infrastructure.

    Usage

    Usually used in the plural when discussing the general system of taxation.
  2. 2 to collect money (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    when a government requires people to pay a percentage of their income or the cost of goods.

    to impose a tax on an individual, business, or activity; used in the third-person singular present tense.

    Example

    The city taxes local businesses to pay for the new park.

    Example

    The state taxes luxury goods at a significantly higher rate than essential items like groceries and medicine.

    Usage

    Takes a direct object representing the person or entity being charged.
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  1. 3 to strain or tire (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to make a big demand on someone's physical or mental strength.

    to make heavy demands on a person's resources, patience, or physical strength; used in the third-person singular present tense.

    Example

    Working two jobs really taxes his energy and health.

    Example

    The complexity of the legal case taxes even the most experienced judges, requiring months of careful deliberation.
  2. 4 biological movements (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    the plural of 'taxis', which means the movement of a living thing toward or away from light or heat.

    the plural of taxis; refers to the directional movement of an organism in response to an external stimulus.

    Example

    The scientist studied how different taxes affect the way bacteria move.

    Example

    Phototactic taxes in certain marine larvae ensure that the organisms remain in the nutrient-rich upper layers of the water column.

    Usage

    The singular form is 'taxis', not 'tax'.
Etymology 1

See tax.

Etymology 2

See taxis.

Idioms1 entry

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