the official department that administers and collects the duties levied by a government on imported goods:cocaine seizures by customs have risen this year [as modifier]:a customs officer
the place at a port, airport, or frontier where officials check incoming goods, travellers, or luggage:we were through customs with a minimum of formalities
(usually customs duties) the duties levied by a government on imported goods:an inflow of customs duties to the Treasuryfrom 1374 Chaucer worked as controller of customs on wool in the port of London
