trade: Meaning and Definition of

trade

1. the act or process of buying, selling, or exchanging commodities, at either wholesale or retail, within a country or between countries: domestic trade; foreign trade.
2. a purchase or sale; business deal or transaction.
3. an exchange of items, usually without payment of money.
4. any occupation pursued as a business or livelihood.
5. some line of skilled manual or mechanical work; craft: the trade of a carpenter; printer's trade.
6. people engaged in a particular line of business: a lecture of interest only to the trade.
7. market: an increase in the tourist trade.
8. a field of business activity: a magazine for the furniture trade.
9. the customers of a business establishment.
10. See trade paper.
11. See trade wind (def. 1).

1. to buy and sell; barter; traffic in.
2. to exchange: to trade seats.

1. to carry on trade.
2. to traffic (usually fol. by in): a tyrant who trades in human lives.
3. to make an exchange.
4. to make one's purchases; shop; buy.
5. to exchange a more valuable or desirable item for a less valuable or desirable one.
6. to give (a used article) as payment to be credited toward a purchase: We trade in our car every three years.
7. to exchange something for or with another.
8. to turn to one's advantage, esp. selfishly or unfairly; exploit: to trade on the weaknesses of others.
9. to exchange a less valuable or desirable item for a more valuable or desirable one.

1. of or pertaining to trade or commerce.
2. used by, serving, or intended for a particular trade: trade journal.
3. of, composed of, or serving the members of a trade: a trade club.