Etymology
From Middle English trade (path, course of conduct), introduced into English by Hanseatic merchants, from Middle Low German trade (track, course), from Old Saxon trada (spoor, track), from Proto-Germanic *tradō (track, way), and cognate with Old English tredan (to tread); ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dreh₂- (to tread, walk, step, run).
Noun
trade (countable and uncountable, plural trades)
- Buying and selling of goods and services on a market.
- A particular instance of buying or selling.
- An instance of bartering items in exchange for one another.
- Those who perform a particular kind of skilled work.
- Those engaged in an industry or group of related industries.
- The skilled practice of a practical occupation.
- An occupation in the secondary sector, as opposed to an agricultural, professional, or military one.
- (chiefly in the plural) Tradewinds. Steady winds blowing from east to west above and below the equator.
- (only as plural) A publication intended for participants in an industry or related group of industries.
Derived terms
- antitrade
- countertrade
- cross-trade
- fair trade
- free trade
- trade-off
Related terms
- jack of all trades
- trademark
Verb
trade (third-person singular simple present trades, present participle trading, simple past and past participle traded)
- To engage in trade.
- To be traded at a certain price or under certain conditions.
- To give (something) in exchange (for).
- To mutually exchange (something) (with).
- To use or exploit a particular aspect, such as a name, reputation, or image, to gain advantage or benefit.
- To do business; offer for sale as for one's livelihood.
- To have dealings; to be concerned or associated (with).
- To recommend and get recommendations.
Derived terms
- cross-trade
- insider trading
Adjective
trade (not comparable)
- Of a product, produced for sale in the ordinary bulk retail trade and hence of only the most basic quality.
Credits
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