Definitions for tao
daʊ, taʊtao

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Taoist, Taonoun

   an adherent of any branch of Taoism

2. Taonoun

   the ultimate principle of the universe

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. taonoun

   The essential principle underlying existence; ultimate reality.

2. taonoun

   The way or path to be followed.

3. Etymology: From 道 (dào; Wade-Giles tao) ‘way, path’.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. tao

   Tao, often translated as 'the way', is a fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy, particularly within Taoism. It generally represents the natural, spontaneous, eternal and indescribable way everything began and took course. Tao can be seen as the flow of the universe, a guide to live in harmony with the world. It is also sometimes referred to as a cosmic force or an ultimate principle of reality.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Tao

   Tao or Dao is a Chinese concept signifying 'way', 'path', 'route', or sometimes more loosely, 'doctrine' or 'principle', or as a verb, speak. Within the context of traditional Chinese philosophy and religion, Tao is a metaphysical concept originating with Laozi that gave rise to a religion and philosophy referred to in English with the single term Taoism. The concept of Tao was shared with Confucianism, Chán and Zen Buddhism and more broadly throughout East Asian philosophy and religion in general. Within these contexts Tao signifies the primordial essence or fundamental nature of the universe. In the foundational text of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching, Laozi explains that Tao is not a 'name' for a 'thing' but the underlying natural order of the universe whose ultimate essence is difficult to circumscribe. Tao is thus "eternally nameless” and to be distinguished from the countless 'named' things which are considered to be its manifestations. In Taoism, Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism, the object of spiritual practice is to 'become one with the tao' or to harmonise one's will with Nature in order to achieve 'effortless action'. This involves meditative and moral practices. Important in this respect is the Taoist concept of De.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. TAO

   What does TAO stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the TAO acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. TAO

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Tao is ranked #7747 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Tao surname appeared 4,286 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 would have the surname Tao.
   
   92.5% or 3,967 total occurrences were Asian.
   3.1% or 133 total occurrences were White.
   3% or 132 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   0.7% or 31 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.

Matched Categories

1. • Taoism
   • Adherent
   • Principle

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Anagrams for tao »

1. AOT

2. ATO

3. oat

4. toa

How to pronounce tao?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say tao in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of tao in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of tao in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of tao in a Sentence

1. Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching:

   The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal Name.

2. Lao Tzu:

   The best man is like water. Water is good it benefits all things and does not compete with them. It dwells in lowly places that all disdain. This is why it is so near to Tao.

3. Laozi:

   Scholars of the highest class, when they hear about the Tao...

4. Lao Tzu:

   Thus it is said: The path into the light seems dark, the path forward seems to go back, the direct path seems long, true power seems weak, true purity seems tarnished, true steadfastness seems changeable, true clarity seems obscure, the greatest are seems unsophisticated, the greatest love seems indifferent, the greatest wisdom seems childish. The Tao is nowhere to be found. Yet it nourishes and completes all things.

5. Lao-Tzu, Tao te Ching:

   Learning builds daily accumulation, but the prictice of Tao builds daily simplification. Simplify and simplify, until all contamination from relative, contridictory thinking is eliminated. Then one does nothing, yet nothing is left undone. One who wins the world does so by not meddling with it. One who meddles with the world loses it.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=tao
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Tao
3. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
4. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=tao
5. ^ Surnames Frequency by Census Records
   https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2010_surnames.html
6. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=tao