traditiontra‧di‧tion /trəˈdɪʃən/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 
the traditions of South East Asia the tradition that the eldest son inherits the property By tradition, it’s the bride’s parents who pay for the wedding.► see thesaurus at habit2(be) in the tradition of somebody/something to have the same features as something that has been made or done in the past: His paintings are very much in the tradition of Picasso and Matisse.COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + traditiona long tradition· This country has a long tradition of accepting political refugees.a time-honoured/long-standing tradition (=a long tradition)· In time-honoured tradition, they have a drink in every pub along the high street.a strong tradition· There is a strong tradition of sport at the school.an old/ancient tradition· In rural Wales, the old traditions persisted.a family tradition· According to family tradition, he must sing at his own wedding.a cultural/religious tradition· cultural traditions that date back many generationsa local tradition· The villagers are all keen to preserve local traditions.American/British/Western etc tradition· The festival is a part of the Scottish tradition which is worth preserving.verbsfollow a tradition (=do what has been done before)· He followed the family tradition and became a doctor.maintain/carry on/continue/uphold a tradition (=make a tradition continue in the same way or at the same standard as before)· We maintain a tradition of cider making dating from Norman times.break with tradition (=not follow a tradition)· Why not break with tradition and study at Leeds, say, or London, instead of Oxford?establish a tradition· They are continuing a tradition established by the firm’s Victorian founder.be steeped in tradition (=have many traditions)· It is an area of the country steeped in tradition.
WORD ORIGINtradition
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French, Latin traditio ‘act of handing over’; ➔ TRAITOREXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a family tradition
- A lot of the old traditions are dying out.
- By tradition, it is the bride's parents who pay for the wedding.
- Every village has its own traditions.
- Indian spiritual traditions
- It's still the tradition here that the eldest son inherits all the family's money and land.
- The region has a tradition of winemaking which goes back to Roman times.
- There is a lot of tradition connected to this school.
- There is great respect for tradition among the older members of the community.
- They come from very different Christian traditions.
- We always go for a long walk on Christmas morning - it's a family tradition.
- Of course that's not to say that tradition doesn't have a place.
- Once claimed, the spots are protected by tradition -- and fear.
- Out of which great religious or philosophical tradition does the call of compassion come to you?
- The great cantors developed their own special variations on the liturgy, largely on the basis of folk tradition.
- There was a long-standing tradition of professionalism, which centred around jockeys and pugilists for the most part.
- There was a place for tradition but it was not here.
- These little creatures are mostly white, in the tradition of the popular white child-like Snowbabies.
- They impose liturgical traditions, organisational structures, communication methods and leadership models which are alien to their environment.
THESAURUS
something you do regularly, often without thinking about it: · Biting your nails is a bad habit.· I always go to the same supermarket, out of habit.
a way of speaking or a small movement of your face or body that is part of your usual behaviour: · Even her mannerisms are the same as her sister’s.
something that people in a particular society do because it is traditional or the accepted thing to do: · In Japan, it is the custom to take off your shoes when you enter a house.
a belief, custom, or way of doing something that has existed for a long time: · The tradition of giving Easter eggs goes back hundreds of years.· In many countries, it’s a tradition for the bride to wear white.· It was a family tradition to go for a walk on Christmas Day.
something that people often do, especially as part of their work or daily life: · The hotel has ended the practice of leaving chocolates in guests’ rooms.
Longman Language Activatora tradition a belief, custom, or way of doing something that has existed for a very long time in a particular country or among a particular group of people: · A lot of the old traditions are dying out.· Every village has its own traditions.tradition of: · The region has a tradition of winemaking which goes back to Roman times.tradition that: · It's still the tradition here that the eldest son inherits all the family's money and land.family tradition: · We always go for a long walk on Christmas morning - it's a family tradition.
belonging to the traditions of a country or group of people - use this about music, food, clothes, customs etc: · A group of children will perform traditional dances.traditional African/French/English etc: · The dancers were wearing traditional African costume.· The restaurant offers a wide range of traditional French food.it is traditional to do something: · In the US it is traditional to dress up in costumes on Halloween.
a way of behaving that has existed for a long time among a group of people, and is considered normal or polite - use this especially to talk about other countries or other times: · Sadly, a lot of the old customs are now dying out.custom of: · The custom of sending birthday cards began in the 19th century.it is the custom (for somebody) to do something: · It is the custom in Japan to take your shoes off when you go into someone's house.· In those days it was the custom for farmers to give part of their crop to the lord of the manor.
something that is customary is considered normal or polite because it is the way it is usually done by a group of people: · The man at the hotel welcomed us with the customary greeting.it is customary (for somebody) to do something: · It is customary for the man to propose to the woman.
a custom, belief or way of doing something that has become established and accepted as part of normal life among a particular group of people: · Trading in ivory had become an institution in this part of Africa.institution of: · Church leaders are meeting this week to discuss ways of preserving the institution of marriage.
all the customs and beliefs of a country or group all the beliefs and ways of behaving that have existed for a very long time in a particular country or among a particular group of people: · There is great respect for tradition among the older members of the community.by tradition (=according to a tradition): · By tradition, it is the bride's parents who pay for the wedding.
old stories which the people in a country or area have told each other for a very long time, and which often contain historical or religious ideas : according to folklore: · According to folklore, King Arthur will one day return to become King of Britain.in folklore: · In folklore the snake is often a symbol of evil.
art, literature, and traditions that are considered to belong as a right to all the people in a society, especially because they form an important part of a country's history: · The town takes great pride in its architectural heritage.national heritage: · These works of art are considered of great importance to Russia's national heritage.heritage of: · The castle is part of the heritage of Wales and should be preserved for the people of Wales.
all the customs, beliefs, and practices of a particular society or among a particular group of people: · The trip offers you a unique opportunity to experience the culture of the remote hill tribes of the north.· In what ways do British and Australian culture differ?
a special event that is part of a tradition a special formal event which is part of the religious or social tradition of a place, and in which there is a fixed set of words and actions: wedding/funeral etc ceremony: · After the wedding ceremony we went to a reception at the bride's parents' house.hold a ceremony (=have a ceremony): · A ceremony is held every year to remember those who died in the war.attend a ceremony: · Over 2,000 people attended the official opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
ceremonial clothes, objects, and activities are used in important religious or social ceremonies: · The Queen was in full ceremonial dress for the state opening of Parliament.· His right hand rested on his ceremonial sword.· The full costume is only worn on important ceremonial occasions.
a set of words and actions that are always done in the same way, for example as part of a religious ceremony: · The book examines rituals for childbirth from different parts of the world.· After an elaborate ritual, the boys are formally accepted into the tribe.perform a ritual: · The ritual is performed in order to thank the Sun Goddess for the rice harvest.
a special action that is done as part of an important religious or social ceremony, especially one that only particular people, for example priests, are allowed to perform: · Buddhist ritesperform a rite: · The Batak chieftains perform the traditional initiation rite.last rites (=final prayers and ceremonies for someone who is dying): · A priest was called to perform last rites for the dying woman.funeral rites: · The body cannot be buried until the funeral rites have been performed.
to not do something in the usual or traditional way to stop doing things the way they have always been done in the past: · The Church has finally broken with tradition and allowed women into the ministry.· I think it's time to break with the past and rewrite the constitution.
when you stop doing things the way they have always been done in the past: · In a significant break with tradition, the Queen will not attend this year's ceremony.· Political leaders are calling for a break with the past and a new spirit of cooperation.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYADJECTIVES/NOUN + tradition a venerable traditionCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· This country has a long tradition of accepting political refugees.
(=a long tradition)· In time-honoured tradition, they have a drink in every pub along the high street.
· There is a strong tradition of sport at the school.
· In rural Wales, the old traditions persisted.
· According to family tradition, he must sing at his own wedding.
· cultural traditions that date back many generations
· The villagers are all keen to preserve local traditions.
· The festival is a part of the Scottish tradition which is worth preserving.
verbs (=do what has been done before)· He followed the family tradition and became a doctor.
(=make a tradition continue in the same way or at the same standard as before)· We maintain a tradition of cider making dating from Norman times.
(=not follow a tradition)· Why not break with tradition and study at Leeds, say, or London, instead of Oxford?
· They are continuing a tradition established by the firm’s Victorian founder.
(=have many traditions)· It is an area of the country steeped in tradition.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES British English age-old customs
age-old customs· The ceremony is an important cultural tradition for the tribe.
· On the island, custom still dictates the roles of men and women.
a venerable tradition· A sizeable centre with ancient agricultural traditions, it is a typical example of the resourceful toils of the region.· At the heart of each is an ancient tradition of devotion to a statue of the Black Virgin.· One may on the other hand consider that the ancient traditions and methods of training for the Bar are worthy of preservation.· This is certainly the product of very ancient traditions.· It had been a democratic country and had ancient traditions of learning and libertarianism.· The Samaritans are the last echo that remain in the world of the ancient Israelite tradition.· Eventually the ancient traditions began to dilute the ideology.
· Protestants and Catholics certainly see themselves as different peoples with different histories, and for the most part maintain different cultural traditions.· Parades can be rerouted, but changing them is an outrage to those who cherish their own cultural traditions.· Despite strong regional cultural traditions, Tyne side was affected by these developments.· And Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson recognize that pending milestone with a party in honor of our cultural traditions.· Although accommodation between the two cultural traditions is often achieved, the conflicts provoked have also been intense.· Vested interest groups protect their existence. Cultural traditions prevent an honest look at environmental realities.· Family formation and family building patterns are reflections of various socio-economic and cultural institutions, traditions and conditions of development.· They tend to restrict the causes of criminality to hereditary characteristics and overlook the effects of environmental influences and cultural traditions.
· Protestants and Catholics certainly see themselves as different peoples with different histories, and for the most part maintain different cultural traditions.· But just as the white-ruled states followed different traditions, so would they take different paths.· This approach proved impractical and inflexible and did not allow for innovation or different national traditions.· But what is undoubtedly the case is that the possibilities of transcendent interpretation are differently characterized in different traditions.· It is unusual to consider them in conjunction with the ostensibly different milieux and traditions of broadcasting.· Why should not the validity of different traditions of discourse simply be allowed to coexist?· C S Lewis comes from a different tradition: in the Narnia books he struggles with big ideas.· The programs give her a glimpse of different traditions, such as a religious wedding ceremony and a school board election.
· In the best traditions of international competition she emphasized the importance of playing the game for its own sake.· Carville bossed and barked and bullied in the best tradition of the sergeants he had known in the marines.· He had been an excellent courtier of the very best tradition.· In good old realpolitik tradition, the chairman controls the staff and the budget.· In the best Maine Road tradition City had only themselves to blame.· Some of the loudest voices there are not in the best tradition.· Once a private mansion, it is a classic hotel in the best tradition.· Who is to say which is the better tradition?
· It was to this great tradition, though as a self-confessedly very junior follower, that Lewis quite easily and naturally belonged.· A scholar in the great Confucian tradition, Le Thanh Tong devoted much of his energy to the advancement of learning.· Sutherland has a great sporting tradition.· We have a great tradition of voluntary services and charitable giving.· Now though, in the great tradition of comic actors, he wants to be taken seriously.
· However, even in the liberal humanist tradition of Leavis and Richards, there is a striking paradox.· One was the simple protection of individual rights against an encroaching state, the basic defence of rights in the liberal tradition.· A paper long allied to the Liberal tradition had been allowed to be taken over by the right-wing Mail.· This latter ideology is in fact one which runs through most of the liberal adult education tradition in Britain.· He has an impressive grounding in Western thought and argues that book-banning is an honorable part of the Western liberal tradition.· In these circumstances it was easier for a liberal tradition to develop.
· It is as if by working in Weston Hall, Leapor came into contact with that family's modest literary tradition.· I ask you: why did women think they could suppress a literary tradition of hundreds of years?· The literary tradition associates the beginning of painting with Corinth and neighbouring Sicyon.· The period of emancipation, the flowering of literary tradition, the Holocaust.· What they do have, though, is a literary tradition, which reveres the short story.· Fly fishing has a literary tradition, too.· The literary tradition is valued in so far as it offers a critical evaluation of this transformation and its consequences.
· This implies a local tradition already current in the twelfth century and might be based on a lost source.· Before leaving for Brixton, Inspectors should brief their men on local customs and traditions.· Many of the local traditions have passed away since those days.· In so doing he may have had access to local traditions.· The design of farm buildings was also affected by the local building tradition.· A wonderful combination of holiday activity and local tradition all within reach of the sun-soaked beaches.· The Black Death and subsequent outbreaks of the plague account for the smallest number of desertions, despite all the local traditions.· And when we run out of local traditions to invent, we can import from abroad.
· Tamayo's insistence on using new materials to construct his prints is very much part of a long tradition in modern art.· Vanderbilt is an excellent team, strong, quick and deep, a team with a long winning tradition.· They have a long tradition of solid trade union organisation.· Some therapists cast their patients as different from themselves by joining the long tradition of not believing what their patients tell them.· Established in 1912, Olympus has a long tradition of good design, using the finest materials and quality craftsmanship.· The Senate has a long and courtly tradition of etiquette and member privilege.· Educated privately at her homes at Parkwern and Hendrefoilan she inherited a long family tradition of unorthodox and innovative ideas.· Social History Ulster has a long tradition of rural industry and peasant agriculture.
· Maybe the tide will start to turn shortly as the avant-garde begin to lead the way back to the old traditions.· Yes, some of the old tradition has worn away over the years.· In the event, however, the crisis served mainly to demonstrate the dominance of older pacifist traditions over revolutionary ideas.· The Vale of White Horse Hunt maintains a centuries old tradition.· The consequence was that good old New York tradition: cronyism, corruption and graft.· Here the structure of the older morality tradition is most neatly challenged by images which question its norms.
· They relied on oral tradition, a doubtful guide concerning such a hated institution as the forest.· There was a time when law was entirely based on the oral tradition.· The study of the oral tradition is called form criticism.· Its history has come down to us only through oral traditions, archaeological research and the accounts of occasional outside observers.· In many ways information in such systems resembles oral tradition more closely than the object-based holdings of archives and libraries.· But oral tradition is not just a process.· In fact, they obey the conventions of the oral tradition, reducing complex phenomena to single comprehensible causes.
· Even if we can identify the relevant society, we also need to be able to identify the content of that political tradition.· At least one House Republican freshman maintains a hoary political tradition by staging town meetings with his constituents.· Such opposite intellectual and political traditions must be welcomed.· Institutions, customs, political and cultural traditions stemming from a long pagan past, were still very much alive in it.· The last representative of the four-hundred-year-old Cecil family political tradition left at the 1987 election.· It is a discussion of a concept which is deeply embedded in the philosophical and political traditions of our culture.
· None the less, different social and religious traditions make the influence of this very difficult to assess.· But the abuses of our religious traditions should not keep us from affirming their call to compassion.· Clearly none of the religious traditions we have examined asserts the latter.· And modern life, in almost all its aspects, represents a break with religious tradition.· This is less distant from the other religious traditions discussed than might be supposed.· The proposed immigration policy would compromise the First Amendment, which forbids the identification of the United States with any religious tradition.· The openness Gandhi shows to the plurality of religious traditions is commendable.· Increased possibilities of travel together with the effects of immigration have also made possible a wider knowledge of the world's religious traditions.
· Despite strong regional cultural traditions, Tyne side was affected by these developments.· Ogontz was a school with a strong conservative tradition.· There is a strong tradition of smuggling, illicit goods being brought from nearby Flookburgh on the coast.· In the first place, the left has a strong tradition of defying authority, and smoking fits neatly into this.· But things are much the same in countries with strong constitutional traditions.· In Asturias there was a strong tradition of early migration in the poor mountain villages.· Consequently in Britain there is a strong tradition of investigating the prevalence of ill health and specific medical conditions among older people.· Within government there will be strong traditions which have to be overcome if a new culture is to develop.
· And that the Western psychotherapeutic tradition could learn a great deal from the work of people like the Good Doctor of Jharsetli.· It is not that Western tradition has been wholly free of references to celestial phenomena.· The Western tradition, however, has never subscribed to such an extreme theology of silence and unknowing.· C., Alexander the Great set a Western tradition for royal philanthropy.· One aspect of illusion is perspective, much valued in the Western tradition.· Are they able to look without too dominant a preconception coming from the Western tradition?· He has an impressive grounding in Western thought and argues that book-banning is an honorable part of the Western liberal tradition.
NOUN· Both brothers followed the family tradition and became mullahs.· We may put together special meals for religious holidays, but usually only as a family tradition.· Ben was following family tradition by sending him here.· Chocolate turns this into a family tradition and a story celebrating life and family.· Creating flower wreaths and circles is a family tradition - Elizabeth Jane has been making them for as long as she can remember.· Law school of course, because of the family tradition, was a possibility.· Educated privately at her homes at Parkwern and Hendrefoilan she inherited a long family tradition of unorthodox and innovative ideas.· He felt that to have any chance of preserving the family tradition, a single individual must inherit.
VERB· This is a view which would accord with the dualistic tradition to which his novels predominantly belong.· Mary was according to tradition a young girl, engaged to an Older Man Joseph.
· So, breaking with tradition, are several of the national missions.· For that reason, Apple broke tradition and did not include a programming language along with the machine.· Not that he broke with all tradition.· Unexpectedly, one of the House conferees decided that this action left her free to break with tradition as well.· To cross them was to break tradition, to sever one's links and become an outsider.· In 1940 Roosevelt broke with tradition and stood for a third term of office.· The Taft administration failed to break tradition on the issues critical to the black man.
· The sense of adventure felt by the pioneers of flight still remains with those who carry on the tradition of ballooning today.· In it, he demonstrates his intention of carrying on the traditions of Veronese and Tintoretto.· Younger members of the Denning family are carrying on the tradition of working at Sharpness docks.· Young Merriam, carrying on the tradition, had pushed for liberal and progressive reforms.· Probably publicans were just carrying on an old tradition of involvement in popular sports.· None of their three sons Roy, Robert and Clive have decided to carry on the family tradition.
· The Government will convince no one that they too wish to continue that tradition.· The ads continue a NutraSweet celebrity tradition that has included Cher and Lauren Hutton.· And down on the River Thames, 1,000 oarsman and women continue the rowing tradition at the Wallingford Regatta.· Of all the styles it is the most laborious and there are few professionals able or willing to continue the tradition.· Augustine, in all essentials continued the tradition.· They simply continue a tradition established by Arthur Liberty, the firm's Victorian founder.· In 1961, Harry's grandson Bobby continued the family tradition by winning on Nicolaus Silver.
· The fact that Stein established a tradition of building pianos without checks requires an explanation.· In my family, we established traditions for talking on long drives.· Two schools for the deaf which were opened in the 1900s were both from the start to establish a pure oralist tradition.· This magnificent abundance established one tradition that we are still struggling to overcome.· Carville established a tradition of recognizing the War Room employee of the week.
· We have followed that noble tradition over the centuries, and that category certainly exists.· Scharf says she is following in the tradition of Dinah, who in Diamant's novel became a midwife.· It will thus follow the path of tradition - and this becomes the vehicle which protects us against deviation.· But just as the white-ruled states followed different traditions, so would they take different paths.· A recent discovery has shown that in kindred matters they followed a tradition current in Athens, at least in the fourth century.· The Tet Offensive followed this tradition.· In this, they followed a venerable tradition.
· Niece, will keep the family tradition going into next generation.· But John Sunier and a few others are keeping the tradition alive in the United States.· It would be nice if some way could be found of keeping this tradition alive in modern society.· They run to keep alive a tradition started by colonial Brits 58 years ago.· Must keep up the family tradition you know.· We have to keep the traditions alive, but we have to make money to survive in society.· Moreover, whatever their political allegiance, they in fact did their country a favour by keeping the vanguard tradition alive.· Throughout these changes, the people of Miyako had continued their relaxed lifestyle and kept up a tradition of hospitality.
· Protestants and Catholics certainly see themselves as different peoples with different histories, and for the most part maintain different cultural traditions.· At least one House Republican freshman maintains a hoary political tradition by staging town meetings with his constituents.· If Britain is to maintain its tradition of excellent clinical research adequate support must be provided for the clinical costs of research.· The Vale of White Horse Hunt maintains a centuries old tradition.· What mattered were, first, to maintain the tradition of worship in the parish, and second, reconciliation.· Clearly the News of the World strongly maintained the tradition of the crime broadsheets through most of the twentieth century.· Drama has maintained its strong tradition, with a major performance each year.· Unfortunately, the number of cheese-making farms has dwindled and there are now only four or five left to maintain the tradition.
· It's not exactly steeped in tradition is it?· Craving a meal steeped in tradition?· Most parents, and not only black ones, are steeped in their old traditions, the old ways of doing things.· The staff writers seem to be a conglomeration of music diehards steeped in the traditions of classic rock.· Deerfield in the late fifties was a conservative school steeped in tradition.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► snow-bound/strike-bound/tradition-bound etc► custodian of tradition/moral values etc
- His latest movie is in the tradition of 1950s horror movies.
- An act of conspicuous valour, in the tradition of St George, might help both her and him.
- As for the recipes for the steel, Butcher kept them all to himself, in the tradition of the alchemists.
- Levine's depictions of the gargoyles of Notre Dame are much in the tradition of Meryon.
- Lovejoy himself is firmly in the tradition of the likeable rogue - no first name for a start.
- Smithagain in the tradition of the Enlightenmenttried to figure out what made people tick.
- This is a poem in the tradition of Horace's Ars Poetica.
- This is based on enumerative classification, which is deeply rooted in the traditions of epidemiology and vital statistics.
- Yet Zeppelin were in the tradition of the blues, of Robert Johnson and Leadbelly.
- After a point, you break with the past.
- Although people complained about the volume, the rhythmic concept represented his biggest break with the past.
- Can the break with the past be more vividly described?
- However, the changes were not a complete break with the past.
- She has broken with the past.
- Thinking they were breaking with the past, the early Christians re-enacted it.
- Would there be a total break with the past?
- Yet the plan represents an important break with the past.
- After a point, you break with the past.
- Although people complained about the volume, the rhythmic concept represented his biggest break with the past.
- Can the break with the past be more vividly described?
- However, the changes were not a complete break with the past.
- She has broken with the past.
- Thinking they were breaking with the past, the early Christians re-enacted it.
- Would there be a total break with the past?
- Yet the plan represents an important break with the past.
- But old habits die hard, and Apple has shown a proclivity to chase market share while hand-wringing over shrinking gross margins.
- It was probably unnecessary, she thought, but old habits died hard.
- Perhaps because it's an island old customs die hard here.
- Things were going well, but old habits die hard.
- This is an area where old customs die hard.
- Both are clifftop courses that are steeped in history.
- The area is steeped in history.
- The Hotel has great character and is steeped in history.
- They brought with them a heritage and culture that is steeped in history and literature.
WORD FAMILYnountraditiontraditionalisttraditionalismadjectivetraditionaltraditionalistadverbtraditionally
1[countable, uncountable] a belief, custom, or way of doing something that has existed for a long time, or these beliefs, customs etc in general: the traditions of South East Asia the tradition that the eldest son inherits the property By tradition, it’s the bride’s parents who pay for the wedding.► see thesaurus at habit2(be) in the tradition of somebody/something to have the same features as something that has been made or done in the past: His paintings are very much in the tradition of Picasso and Matisse.COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + traditiona long tradition· This country has a long tradition of accepting political refugees.a time-honoured/long-standing tradition (=a long tradition)· In time-honoured tradition, they have a drink in every pub along the high street.a strong tradition· There is a strong tradition of sport at the school.an old/ancient tradition· In rural Wales, the old traditions persisted.a family tradition· According to family tradition, he must sing at his own wedding.a cultural/religious tradition· cultural traditions that date back many generationsa local tradition· The villagers are all keen to preserve local traditions.American/British/Western etc tradition· The festival is a part of the Scottish tradition which is worth preserving.verbsfollow a tradition (=do what has been done before)· He followed the family tradition and became a doctor.maintain/carry on/continue/uphold a tradition (=make a tradition continue in the same way or at the same standard as before)· We maintain a tradition of cider making dating from Norman times.break with tradition (=not follow a tradition)· Why not break with tradition and study at Leeds, say, or London, instead of Oxford?establish a tradition· They are continuing a tradition established by the firm’s Victorian founder.be steeped in tradition (=have many traditions)· It is an area of the country steeped in tradition.