- Main Entry:
- 1mar·ket
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈmär-kət\
- Function:
- noun
- Usage:
- often attributive
- Etymology:
- Middle English, probably from Continental GMC; akin to Old Saxon markat marketplace, Old High German marcāt, both ultimately from Latin mercatus trade, marketplace, from mercari to trade, from merc-, merx merchandise
- Date:
- 12th century
1 a (1): a meeting together of people for the purpose of trade by private purchase and sale and usually not by auction (2): the people assembled at such a meeting b (1): a public place where a market is held; especially : a place where provisions are sold at wholesale <a farmers' market> (2): a retail establishment usually of a specified kind <a fish market>2archaic : the act or an instance of buying and selling3: the rate or price offered for a commodity or security4 a (1): a geographic area of demand for commodities or services (2): a specified category of potential buyers <the youth market> b: the course of commercial activity by which the exchange of commodities is effected : extent of demand <the market is dull> c (1): an opportunity for selling <a good market for used cars> (2): the available supply of or potential demand for specified goods or services <the labor market> d: the area of economic activity in which buyers and sellers come together and the forces of supply and demand affect prices <producing goods for market rather than for consumption>
—
in the market : in the position of being a potential buyer <in the market for a house>
—
on the market : available for purchase; also : up for sale <put their house on the market>
