trade
Other forms: trading; trades; traded
When Bobby has peanut butter but wants bologna and Billy has bologna but wants peanut butter––they can make a trade. Trade also means a set of job skills––to learn a trade means to train for a certain job.
The concept of trading––or bartering––forms the basis of modern civilization––it brings along division of labor, literacy, urbanization. Thinking in those terms you can see how tradespeople––those trained in trades end up essentially trading their services, with money being introduced when the barter system breaks down or becomes too complex.
Definitions of trade
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the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services“Venice was an important center of trade with the East”“they are accused of conspiring to constrain trade”
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types:
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fair trade
trade that is conducted legally
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fair trade
trade that satisfies certain criteria on the supply chain of the goods involved, usually including fair payment for producers; often with other social and environmental considerations
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free trade
international trade free of government interference
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NAFTA, North American Free Trade Agreement
an agreement for free trade between the United States and Canada and Mexico; became effective in 1994 for ten years
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type of:
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commerce, commercialism, mercantilism
transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)
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a particular instance of buying or selling“I had no further trade with him”
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synonyms:
business deal, deal
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types:
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arms deal
a deal to provide military arms
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penny ante
a business deal on a trivial scale
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type of:
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dealing, dealings, transaction
the act of transacting within or between groups (as carrying on commercial activities)
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arms deal
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the business given to a commercial establishment by its customers
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engage in the trade of
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synonyms:
merchandise
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types:
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black market, run
deal in illegally, such as arms or liquor
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traffic
trade or deal a commodity
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arbitrage
practice arbitrage, as in the stock market
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traffic
deal illegally
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market
engage in the commercial promotion, sale, or distribution of
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import
bring in from abroad
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export
sell or transfer abroad
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offer
make available for sale
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smuggle
import or export without paying customs duties
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do business; offer for sale as for one's livelihood
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types:
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push
sell or promote the sale of (illegal goods such as drugs)
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deal
sell
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black marketeer
deal on the black market
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pyramid
use or deal in (as of stock or commercial transaction) in a pyramid deal
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market
deal in a market
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hawk, huckster, monger, peddle, pitch, vend
sell or offer for sale from place to place
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type of:
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transact
conduct business
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be traded at a certain price or under certain conditions
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the skilled practice of a practical occupation“he learned his trade as an apprentice”
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synonyms:
craft
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types:
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airplane mechanics
the craft of building and repairing airplanes
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auto mechanics
the craft of building and repairing automobiles
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basketry
the craft of basket making
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carpentry, woodwork, woodworking
the craft of a carpenter: making things out of wood
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drafting, mechanical drawing
the craft of drawing blueprints
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dressmaking
the craft of making dresses
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electrical work
the craft of an electrician
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interior decoration, interior design
the trade of planning the layout and furnishings of an architectural interior
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lumbering
the trade of cutting or preparing or selling timber
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masonry
the craft of a mason
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oculism
the craft of an oculist
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house painting, painting
the occupation of a house painter
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papermaking
the craft of making paper
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pilotage, piloting
the occupation of a pilot
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plumbery, plumbing
the occupation of a plumber (installing and repairing pipes and fixtures for water or gas or sewage in a building)
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pottery
the craft of making earthenware
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pyrotechnics, pyrotechny
the craft of making fireworks
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cobbling, shoe repairing, shoemaking
the shoemaker's trade
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roofing
the craft of a roofer
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sheet-metal work
the craft of doing sheet metal work (as in ventilation systems)
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shingling
the laying on of shingles
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tailoring
the occupation of a tailor
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tool-and-die work
the craft of making special tools and dies
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handicraft
a craft that requires skillful hands
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mintage
act or process of minting coins
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tanning
making leather from rawhide
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typography
the craft of composing type and printing from it
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undertaking
the trade of a funeral director
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upholstery
the craft of upholstering
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wine making, winemaking
the craft and science of growing grapes and making wine
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bookbinding
the craft of binding books
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bricklaying
the craft of laying bricks
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cabinetry, cabinetwork
the craft of making furniture (especially furniture of high quality)
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furnishing
the act of decorating a house or room
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lighting
the craft of providing artificial light
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cabinetmaking, joinery
the craft of a joiner
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couture
high fashion designing and dressmaking
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sewing, stitching
joining or attaching by stitches
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spinning
creating thread
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weaving
creating fabric
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knitting
creating knitted wear
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crocheting
creating a garment of needlework
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lace making, tatting
the act or art of making handmade lace
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needlecraft, needlework
work (such as sewing or embroidery) that is done with a needle
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slating
the act of laying slates for a roof
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type of:
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business, job, line, line of work, occupation
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
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people who perform a particular kind of skilled work“as they say in the trade”
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synonyms:
craft
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type of:
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class, social class, socio-economic class, stratum
people having the same social, economic, or educational status
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class, social class, socio-economic class, stratum
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an equal exchange
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types:
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horse trade, horse trading
the swapping of horses (accompanied by much bargaining)
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type of:
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exchange, interchange
reciprocal transfer of equivalent sums of money (especially the currencies of different countries)
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horse trade, horse trading
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exchange or give (something) in exchange for
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turn in as payment or part payment for a purchase“trade in an old car for a new one”
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synonyms:
trade in
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types:
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barter away
trade in in a bartering transaction
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type of:
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change, exchange, interchange
give to, and receive from, one another
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barter away
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steady winds blowing from east to west above and below the equator“they rode the trade winds going west”
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synonyms:
trade wind
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type of:
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prevailing wind
the predominant wind direction
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prevailing wind
Pronunciation
US
/treɪd/
UK
/treɪd/
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