Tao

[ dou, tou ]

/ daʊ, taʊ /

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noun (sometimes lowercase)Philosophy.

(in philosophical Taoism) that in virtue of which all things happen or exist.

the rational basis of human activity or conduct.

a universal, regarded as an ideal attained to a greater or lesser degree by those embodying it.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of Tao

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

Words nearby Tao

tanyard, Tanzania, Tanzanian, tanzanite, Tanzim, Tao, Taoiseach, Taoism, taonga, Taormina, Taos

Other definitions for Tao (2 of 2)

Tao²

[ tou ]

/ taʊ /

noun

Yami.

Origin of Tao

From Tao: literally, “human being”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Tao in a sentence

The researcher demanded Tao pay her $310,000 for her contribution, said Tao’s attorney, Peter Zeidenberg, a partner at Arent Fox.
Kansas professor says FBI misled court in alleging hidden ties to Chinese government|Ellen Nakashima|August 24, 2021|Washington Post
Tao is asking the court to throw out evidence obtained with the warrants.
Kansas professor says FBI misled court in alleging hidden ties to Chinese government|Ellen Nakashima|August 24, 2021|Washington Post
While this could drive their price down further, it would also cut into the economic case for recycling, Tao says.
Solar panels are a pain to recycle. These companies are trying to fix that.|Casey Crownhart|August 19, 2021|MIT Technology Review
When Tao published a review paper on solar-panel recycling in June 2020, he calculated that the value of raw materials that could be extracted from a used panel would be around $10.
Solar panels are a pain to recycle. These companies are trying to fix that.|Casey Crownhart|August 19, 2021|MIT Technology Review

Filaseta and Southwick used a sieve argument, similar to the approach Tao took in 2011, to show that if you take prime numbers in the aforementioned bucket and decrease one of the digits, a positive proportion of those primes will become composite.
Mathematicians Find a New Class of Digitally Delicate Primes|Steve Nadis|March 30, 2021|Quanta Magazine
More than bawdy, though, The Ball adds a familiar unpretentiousness to trendy locales like Tao, Lavo, The Park, and Dream Hotel.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots|Emily Shire|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They worked in a unit called Tailored Access Operations, or TAO.
How the NSA Became a Killing Machine|Shane Harris|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We went to Professor Tao and asked for freer access, which was granted.
China Doesn't Want You to See the Internet Addiction Film 'Web Junkie'|Shosh Shlam and Hilla Medalia|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Professor Tao agreed to open his doors for us to film at his center.
China Doesn't Want You to See the Internet Addiction Film 'Web Junkie'|Shosh Shlam and Hilla Medalia|August 9, 2014|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.
The Stacks: The Neville Brothers Stake Their Claim as Bards of the Bayou|John Ed Bradley|April 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was the founder of Tao-tze, a kind of rationalism, which at present has millions of adherents in China.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume I|John Lord
But there was no danger to the Light Country from Tao, he thought with satisfaction.
The Fire People|Ray Cummings
Tao would await the results of his emissaries' work, of course.
The Fire People|Ray Cummings
Under no circumstances must they be allowed to reach Tao and tell him what had occurred.
The Fire People|Ray Cummings
That this was Tao's stronghold, and not the Lone City, now became evident.
The Fire People|Ray Cummings

British Dictionary definitions for Tao

Tao

/ (taʊ) /

noun (in the philosophy of Taoism)

that in virtue of which all things happen or exist

the rational basis of human conduct

the course of life and its relation to eternal truth

Word Origin for Tao

Chinese, literally: path, way

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012