tax 
(tăks)
(tăks)n.
1. A contribution for the support of a government required of persons, groups, or businesses within the domain of that government.
2. A fee or dues levied on the members of an organization to meet its expenses.
3. A burdensome or excessive demand; a strain.
tr.v. taxed, tax·ing, tax·es
1. To place a tax on (income, property, or goods).
2. To exact a tax from: taxed the people.
3. Law To assess (court costs, for example).
4. To make difficult or excessive demands upon: a boss who taxed everyone's patience.
5.
a. To accuse; confront: taxed him with ingratitude.
b. To hold accountable: The contractor was taxed with the mistake of the subcontractor.
[Middle English, from taxen, to tax, from Old French taxer, from Medieval Latin taxāre, from Latin, to touch, reproach, reckon, frequentative of tangere, to touch; see tag- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
taxa·ble (tăksə-bəl) adj.
taxa·bly adv.
taxer n.