trade

¹trade

noun \ˈtrād\

Definition of TRADE

1

a obsolete : a path traversed : way

b archaic : a track or trail left by a person or animal : tread 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

a obsolete : dealings between persons or groups

b (1) : the business of buying and selling or bartering commodities : commerce (2) : business, market <novelties for the tourist trade> <did a good trade in small appliances>

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

Examples of TRADE

1. the trade between the two countries
2. Trade accounts for half of our gross national product.
3. The Tigers made a few good trades this season and picked up some promising players.

Origin of TRADE

Middle English, from Middle Low German; akin to Old High German trata track, course, Old English tredan to tread

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to TRADE

Synonyms

back-and-forth, barter, commutation, dicker, quid pro quo, swap, exchange, trade-off, truck

Related Words

replacement, substitution; reciprocation, recompense, requital; bargain, deal, horse trade, negotiation, transaction; bargaining, dealing, dickering, haggling, horse trading; logrolling

Near Antonyms

avocation, hobby, pursuit

See Synonym Discussion at business

Rhymes with TRADE

Ade, aid, aide, blade, braid, cade, clade, fade, glade, grade, jade, lade, made, maid, paid, raid, rayed, shade, spade, stade, staid, suede, wade

²trade

verb

trad·edtrad·ing

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>

Examples of TRADE

1. If you don't like your seat, I'll trade with you.
2. I traded seats with her halfway through the show.
3. He was traded to the Yankees.
4. They traded him to the Broncos.
5. I traded my pen for a pencil and kept writing.
6. Their firm specializes in trading bonds.
7. She mostly trades in stocks.

First Known Use of TRADE

1553

Related to TRADE

Synonyms

deal, traffic

Related Words

bargain, barter, horse-trade, negotiate, transact; auction, exchange, merchandise (also merchandize), rebuy, resell, swap; buy, pick up, purchase, take; distribute, fair-trade, market, peddle, retail, sell, supply, vend, wholesale; black-market, bootleg, fence, smuggle; corner, engross, monopolize, undersell; day-trade, invest, speculate

Near Antonyms

black [chiefly British], blackball, boycott

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

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite