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 aobsolete : a path traversed : way barchaic : a track or trail left by a person or animal : tread 12: 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 industry4 aobsolete : 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 industry6: trade wind —usually used in plural7: a publication intended for persons in the entertainment business —usually used in plural

synonyms see business