Main Entry: ¹trade

Pronunciation: \ˈtrād\

Function: noun

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

Date: 14th century

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

synonyms see business