Standard Lemma guide

tao

name · noun · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /daʊ/
  • /taʊ/
  • dou
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -aʊ
  • /ˈta.ʊ/
  • CMU ARPABET: T AW1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: D AW1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

name

Meaning 1

Alternative letter-case form of Tao: the way of nature or way to live one's life.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Chinese, alt-of

Topics: human-sciences, lifestyle, philosophy, religion, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

name

Meaning 2

In Taoism, The Way, specifically the transcendental basis of nature and, and/or the ideal way to live one's life.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Chinese

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

name

Meaning 3

A unisex given name from Mandarin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

name

Meaning 4

A surname from Mandarin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

name

Meaning 5

an Austronesian ethnic group native to Orchid Island (Lanyu) of Lanyu, Taitung County, Taiwan

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

name

Meaning 6

a historical region of Georgia (country)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

The art or skill of doing something in harmony with the essential nature of the thing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, uncountable, usually

Examples

  • the tao of sex... the tao of the heart... the tao of integuments...

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

Synonym of circuit: various administrative divisions of imperial and early Republican China.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical, obsolete, uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: circuit

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

Alternative form of tao (“art or skill in harmony with essential nature”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

Initialism of thyroid-associated orbitopathy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable

Topics: medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

the ultimate principle of the universe

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: principle

12

noun

Meaning 12

an adherent of any branch of Taoism

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Taoist

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: disciple, adherent

History

Etymology

From the Wade–Giles romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese 道 (tao4).

From the Wade–Giles romanization of Mandarin 道 (Dào, literally “The Way”): Tao4.

Borrowed from Mandarin 陶 (Táo).

Borrowed from Yami Tao (“the Tao/Yami language”), from Yami tao (“human; person”), from Proto-Philippine *tau, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tau, from Proto-Austronesian *Cau. Compare Ibatan tawo, Tagalog tao, Ilocano tao.

Borrowed from Georgian ტაო (ṭao).

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: да́о (dáo) — Chinese philosophical term
  • Cherokee: ᏔᎣ (tao) — Chinese philosophical term
  • Chinese Cantonese: 道 (dou6) — Chinese philosophical term
  • Chinese Mandarin: 道 (dào) — Chinese philosophical term
  • Finnish: tao — Chinese philosophical term
  • Korean: 도 (do) — Chinese philosophical term
  • Marathi: टाउ (ṭāu) — Chinese philosophical term
  • Marathi: टाओ (ṭāo) — Chinese philosophical term
  • Polish: dao — Chinese philosophical term
  • Polish: tao — Chinese philosophical term
  • Russian: да́о (dáo) — Chinese philosophical term
  • Vietnamese: đạo — Chinese philosophical term