Thread: сложные слова

определять - to determine, so определяться is to be determined
употреблять is to use or to consume (regarding food), so употребляться is to be used or to be consumed
облагать is a derivative of a verb класть (which is a correct imperfective of положить), which means to put, so when you say прибыль облагается налогом that really means that someone puts taxes on profits or taxes are put on profits

Originally Posted by iCake

определять - to determine, so определяться is to be determined
употреблять is to use or to consume (regarding food), so употребляться is to be used or to be consumed
облагать is a derivative of a verb класть (which is a correct imperfective of положить), which means to put, so when you say прибыль облагается налогом that really means that someone puts taxes on profits or taxes are put on profits

I had to correct your typo, otherwise it could be confusing.