tradition

tradition
tra‧di‧tion S2 W2 /trəˈdɪʃən/ noun1. [uncountable and countable] a belief, custom, or way of doing something that has existed for a long time, or these beliefs, customs etc in general:
    the traditions of South East Asia
    the tradition that the eldest son inherits the property
    By tradition, it’s the bride’s parents who pay for the wedding.
2. (be) in the tradition of somebody/something to have the same features as something that has been made or done in the past:
    His paintings are very much in the tradition of Picasso and Matisse.
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ adjectives/NOUN + tradition
   ▪ a long tradition This country has a long tradition of accepting political refugees.
   ▪ a time-honoured/long-standing tradition (=a long tradition) In time-honoured tradition, they have a drink in every pub along the high street.
   ▪ a strong tradition There is a strong tradition of sport at the school.
   ▪ an old/ancient tradition In rural Wales, the old traditions persisted.
   ▪ a family tradition According to family tradition, he must sing at his own wedding.
   ▪ a cultural/religious tradition cultural traditions that date back many generations
   ▪ a local tradition The villagers are all keen to preserve local traditions.
   ▪ American/British/Western etc tradition The festival is a part of the Scottish tradition which is worth preserving.
■ verbs
   ▪ follow a tradition (=do what has been done before) He followed the family tradition and became a doctor.
   ▪ maintain/carry on/continue/uphold a tradition (=make a tradition continue in the same way or at the same standard as before) We maintain a tradition of cider making dating from Norman times.
   ▪ break with tradition (=not follow a tradition) Why not break with tradition and study at Leeds, say, or London, instead of Oxford?
   ▪ establish a tradition They are continuing a tradition established by the firm’s Victorian founder.
   ▪ be steeped in tradition (=have many traditions) It is an area of the country steeped in tradition.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ habit something you do regularly, often without thinking about it: Biting your nails is a bad habit. | I always go to the same supermarket, out of habit.
   ▪ mannerism a way of speaking or a small movement of your face or body that is part of your usual behaviour: Even her mannerisms are the same as her sister’s.
   ▪ custom something that people in a particular society do because it is traditional or the accepted thing to do: In Japan it is the custom to take off your shoes when you enter a house.
   ▪ tradition a belief, custom, or way of doing something that has existed for a long time: The tradition of giving Easter eggs goes back hundreds of years. | In many countries, it’s a tradition for the bride to wear white. | It was a family tradition to go for a walk on Christmas Day.
   ▪ practice something that people often do, especially as part of their work or daily life: The hotel has ended the practice of leaving chocolates in guests’ rooms.