Definition

1. Noun:

   • A compulsory financial charge imposed by a government: A "tax" is a mandatory payment levied by a government on individuals, entities, property, or activities to fund public expenditures.
   • (Figurative) A heavy demand or strain: "Tax" can also refer to something that makes heavy demands on a resource, such as strength or patience.

2. Verb:

   • To impose a tax on: To levy a financial charge by governmental authority.
   • To make heavy demands on; to strain: To put a severe burden or pressure on someone's resources, abilities, or patience.
   • To accuse or charge: To lay a fault or blame upon someone.
   • (Law) To assess or determine the amount of (a cost or fine).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Income tax must be filed by April 15th.
  • The long illness was a tax on her financial resources.
• Verb:
  • The government taxes tobacco products heavily.
  • The difficult puzzle taxed my brain.
  • They taxed him with dishonesty.
  • The judge taxed the costs of the lawsuit against the defendant.

Advanced Usage

• "To tax one's memory": to require a great mental effort to remember.
  • Recalling all the details of the event really taxed my memory.
• "To tax one's credulity": to strain one's ability to believe something.
  • His far-fetched excuse taxed my credulity.

Variants and Related Words

• Taxable (adj): subject to being taxed.
  • Taxable income.
• Taxation (n): the system or act of imposing taxes.
  • The principles of fair taxation.
• Taxpayer (n): a person or entity that pays taxes.
• Taxing (adj): physically or mentally demanding.
  • A taxing journey.

Synonyms

• Noun: Levy, duty, tariff, impost, charge.
• Verb: Burden, strain, stretch, task; accuse, charge; assess.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• Tax with: To accuse or charge someone with something.
  • He was taxed with neglecting his duties.

Related Idioms

• A tax on something: Something that uses a lot of a particular resource.
  • Caring for the old house is a constant tax on my time and money.
• Death and taxes: Used to suggest that some things in life are inevitable.
  • It's said that nothing is certain except death and taxes.

Noun

1. charge against a citizen's person or property or activity for the support of government

Verb

1. make a charge against or accuse
   • They taxed him failure to appear in court
2. use to the limit
   • you are taxing my patience
3. set or determine the amount of (a payment such as a fine)
4. levy a tax on
   • The State taxes alcohol heavily
   • Clothing is not taxed in our state