Tao

¹

[ dou, tou ]

noun

, (sometimes lowercase)

1. (in philosophical Taoism) that in virtue of which all things happen or exist.
2. the rational basis of human activity or conduct.
3. a universal, regarded as an ideal attained to a greater or lesser degree by those embodying it.

Tao

²

[ tou ]

noun

1. Yami ( def ).

Tao

/ taʊ /

noun

1. that in virtue of which all things happen or exist
2. the rational basis of human conduct
3. the course of life and its relation to eternal truth

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tao¹

First recorded in 1730–40; from Chinese (Wade-Giles) Tao4, (pinyin) dào literally, “path, way, right way”

Origin of Tao²

From Tao: literally, “human being”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tao¹

Chinese, literally: path, way

Example Sentences

More than bawdy, though, The Ball adds a familiar unpretentiousness to trendy locales like Tao, Lavo, The Park, and Dream Hotel.

From The Daily Beast

They worked in a unit called Tailored Access Operations, or TAO.

From The Daily Beast

We went to Professor Tao and asked for freer access, which was granted.

From The Daily Beast

Professor Tao agreed to open his doors for us to film at his center.

From The Daily Beast

One is on African primal religions, another on the tao of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, another on the path to total rejuvenation.

From The Daily Beast

He was the founder of Tao-tze, a kind of rationalism, which at present has millions of adherents in China.

From Project Gutenberg

But there was no danger to the Light Country from Tao, he thought with satisfaction.

From Project Gutenberg

Tao would await the results of his emissaries' work, of course.

From Project Gutenberg

Under no circumstances must they be allowed to reach Tao and tell him what had occurred.

From Project Gutenberg

That this was Tao's stronghold, and not the Lone City, now became evident.

From Project Gutenberg