n.
- the buying and selling of goods and services.
▸N. Amer. (in sport) a transfer.
- a job requiring manual skills and special training.
-
(the trade)
[treated as sing. or pl.]
a particular area of business.
▸dated, chiefly derogatory the practice of making one's living in business, as opposed to in a profession or from unearned income.
- a trade wind.
v.
- buy and sell goods and services.
▸buy or sell (an item or product).
▸(especially of shares or currency) be bought and sold at a specified price.
▸N. Amer. transfer (a player) to another team.
- exchange, typically as a commercial transaction.
▸give and receive (insults or blows).
▸
(trade something in)
exchange a used article in part payment for another.
▸
(trade something off)
exchange something of value, especially as part of a compromise.
-
(trade on)
take advantage of.
Derivative
- tradable
(or tradeable)
adj.
- trading n.
Etymology
ME: from Mid. Low Ger., lit. ‘track’, of W. Gmc origin; rel. to tread.