First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1trade
noun \ˈtrād\
: the activity or process of buying, selling, or exchanging goods or services
: the amount of things or services that are bought and sold : the money made by buying and selling things or services
: the act of exchanging one thing for another
Full Definition of TRADE
1
2
: a customary course of action : practice <thy sin's not accidental, but a trade — Shakespeare>
3
a : the business or work in which one engages regularly : occupation b : an occupation requiring manual or mechanical skill : craft c : the persons engaged in an occupation, business, or industry
4
5
a : an act or instance of trading : transaction; also : an exchange of property usually without use of money b : a firm's customers : clientele c : the group of firms engaged in a business or industry
6
: trade wind —usually used in plural
7
: a publication intended for persons in the entertainment business —usually used in plural
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Origin of TRADE
Middle English, from Middle Low German; akin to Old High German trata track, course, Old English tredan to tread
Related to TRADE
- Synonyms
- back-and-forth, barter, commutation, dicker, quid pro quo, swap, exchange, trade-off, truck
Synonym Discussion of TRADE
business, commerce, trade, industry, traffic mean activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities. business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions. commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities. industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale. traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.
2trade
verb
: to give something to someone and receive something in return : to give something in exchange for something else
sports : to give (one of your players) to another team in exchange for one of their players
: to stop using (one thing) and start using another
trad·edtrad·ing
Full Definition of TRADE
intransitive verb
1
obsolete : to have dealings : negotiate
2
a : to engage in the exchange, purchase, or sale of goods b : to make one's purchases : shop <trades at his store>
3
: to give one thing in exchange for another
4
: sell 3
transitive verb
1
archaic : to do business with
2
a : to give in exchange for another commodity : barter; also : to make an exchange of <traded places> b : to engage in frequent buying and selling of (as stocks or commodities) usually in search of quick profits
— trad·able also trade·able \ˈtrā-də-bəl\ adjective
— trade on
: to take often unscrupulous advantage of : exploit <traded on their influence…in securing special favors — T. C. Pease>
See trade defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of TRADE
1553
3trade
adjective
Definition of TRADE
1
: of, relating to, or used in trade
2
a : intended for or limited to persons in a business or industry <a trade publication> <trade sales> b : serving others in the same business rather than the ultimate user or consumer <a trade printing house>
3
also trades : of, composed of, or representing the trades or trade unions <a trade committee>
4
: having a larger softcover format than that of a mass-market paperback and usually sold only in bookstores <trade paperbacks>; also : of or relating to the publishing of such books
First Known Use of TRADE
1633
Other Business Terms
TRADING Defined for Kids
1trade
noun \ˈtrād\
Definition of TRADE for Kids
1
: the business or work in which a person takes part regularly : occupation
2
: the business of buying and selling items : commerce
3
: an occupation requiring manual or mechanical skill : craft
4
: an act of trading : transaction
5
: the persons working in a business or industry
6
: a firm's customers
2trade
verb
trad·edtrad·ing
Definition of TRADE for Kids
1
: to give in exchange for something else <I'll trade my apple for your banana.>
2
: to take part in the exchange, purchase, or sale of goods <Our country trades in many parts of the world.>
3
: to deal regularly as a customer <Because of bad service, I don't trade there anymore.>
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