Definition of traffic
1a (1) : the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route (2) : congestion of vehicles stuck in traffic (3) : the movement (as of vehicles or pedestrians) through an area or along a routeb : the information or signals transmitted over a communications system : messages
2 : the volume of customers visiting a business establishment restaurant traffic
3a : the passengers or cargo carried by a transportation systemb : the business of transporting passengers or freight
4a : import and export tradeb : the business of bartering or buying and sellingc : illegal or disreputable usually commercial activity the drug traffic
5a : communication or dealings especially between individuals or groupsb : exchange a lively traffic in ideas — F. L. Allen
6 : a concentration of participants or players and especially defensive players force difficult shots in traffic
the traffic will bear
: existing conditions will allow or permit charge what the traffic will bear
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Examples of traffic in a sentence
Let's leave early to avoid rush hour traffic.
Traffic is backed up to the bridge.
Barge traffic was halted because of flooding.
Airlines saw a decrease in passenger traffic this year.
Origin and Etymology of traffic
Middle French trafique, from Old Italian traffico, from trafficare to trade in coastal waters
First Known Use: 1549
Synonym Discussion of traffic
traffic
Definition of traffic
trafficked
;trafficking
trafficker
nounExamples of traffic in a sentence
arrested him for trafficking in drugs
1540
First Known Use of traffic
1540
TRAFFIC Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of traffic for English Language Learners
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: all the vehicles driving along a certain road or in a certain area
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: the movement of airplanes, ships, etc., along routes
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: the amount of people who pass through a certain place or travel in a certain way
traffic
Definition of traffic for English Language Learners
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: to buy or sell something especially illegally
TRAFFIC Defined for Kids
Definition of traffic for Students
1 : the movement (as of vehicles or pedestrians) along a route
2 : the people or goods carried by train, boat, or airplane or passing along a road, river, or air route
3 : the business of carrying passengers or goods the tourist traffic
4 : the business of buying and selling : commerce
5 : exchange of information They had no traffic with the enemy.
Law Dictionary
traffic
Legal Definition of traffic
1a : import and export trade b : the business of bartering or buying and selling c : illegal or disreputable usually commercial activity the drug traffic
2a : the movement (as of vehicles or pedestrians) through an area or along a route b : the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route c : the information or signals transmitted over a communications system
3a : the passengers or cargo carried by a transportation system b : the business of transporting passengers or freight
traffic
Legal Definition of traffic
trafficked
trafficking
intransitive verb
: to carry on traffic
transitive verb
1 : to travel over
2 : to engage in the trading or bartering of
trafficker
nounLearn More about traffic
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See words that rhyme with traffic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for traffic Spanish Central: Translation of traffic Nglish: Translation of traffic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of traffic for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about traffic
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