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embargo

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The definition of an embargo is a government ban on moving commercial ships in and out of certain ports, or a restriction of trade for a specific product or with a specific country.

(noun)

An example of an embargo is the trade ban in place that prevents the US from trading with Cuba.

See embargo in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. embargoes

a government order prohibiting the entry or departure of commercial ships at its ports, esp. as a war measure
any restriction or restraint, esp. one imposed on commerce by law; specif.,
1. a prohibition of trade in a particular commodity
2. a prohibition or restriction of freight transportation

Origin: Sp < embargar < VL *imbarricare < L in-, in, on + ML barra, bar

transitive verb embargoed, embargoing

to put an embargo upon

See embargo in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. em·bar·goes

A government order prohibiting the movement of merchant ships into or out of its ports.
A prohibition by a government on certain or all trade with a foreign nation.
A prohibition; a ban: an embargo on criticism.

transitive verb em·bar·goed, em·bar·go·ing, em·bar·goes

To impose an embargo on.

Origin:

Origin: Spanish

Origin: , from embargar, to impede

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *imbarricāre, to barricade

Origin: : Latin in-, in; see en-¹

Origin: + Vulgar Latin *barricāre, to barricade (from *barrīca, barrel, barrier, from *barra, bar, barrier)

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