customhouse

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Word: Customhouse

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A customhouse is a government building where customs duties (taxes on imported goods) are collected. It is also the place where ships are officially checked and allowed to enter or leave a country.

Usage Instructions:

• The word "customhouse" is used mainly in the context of international trade and shipping.
• It is often used when discussing the arrival or departure of goods and ships at a country's borders.

Example Sentence:

• "The cargo ship docked at the customhouse to pay the required taxes before unloading its goods."

Advanced Usage:

• In discussions about trade policies, you might hear phrases like "the efficiency of the customhouse" or "regulations enforced at the customhouse," which refer to how well the customhouse operates and the rules it follows.

Word Variants:

• Customs (plural): Often used to refer generally to the duties or the government agency that manages the collection of these duties.
• Customs officer: A person who works at the customhouse and checks goods and documents.

Different Meanings:

• While "customhouse" specifically refers to a government building for customs purposes, "customs" can also refer to the practices or habits of a culture or society. For example, "the customs of the local people."

Synonyms:

• Customs office
• Customs station
• Border control office

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Clear customs: This means to go through the customs process, where goods are inspected and approved for entry into a country.

  • Example: "The shipment will clear customs by tomorrow."

• Duty-free: Refers to goods that can be purchased without paying customs duties, often found in airports or borders.

  • Example: "You can buy duty-free alcohol at the airport."

Summary:

In summary, a customhouse is a vital part of international trade, where ships and goods are processed according to the laws of a country.

Academic

Noun

1. a government building where customs are collected and where ships are cleared to enter or leave the country

Synonyms

• customshouse