TRADE

noun

Synonyms

Profession; occupation; office; calling; avocation; employment; commerce; dealing; traffic. Board of trade. See under Board. Trade dollar. See under Dollar. Trade price, the price at which goods are sold to members of the same trade, or by wholesale dealers to retailers. Trade sale, an auction by and for the trade, especially that of the booksellers. Trade wind, a wind in the torrid zone, and often a little beyond at, which blows from the same quarter throughout the year, except when affected by local causes;so called because of its usefulness to navigators, and hence to trade.

Definitions

1. A track; a trail; a way; a path; also, passage; travel; resort. [Obs.] A postern with a blind wicket there was, A common trade to pass through Priam's house. Surrey. Hath tracted forth some salvage beastes trade. Spenser. Or, I'll be buried in the king's highway, Some way of common trade, where subjects' feet May hourly trample on their sovereign's head. Shak.
2. Course; custom; practice; occupation; employment. [Obs.] "The right trade of religion." Udall. There those five sisters had continual trade. Spenser. Long did I love this lady, Long was my travel, long my trade to win her. Massinger. Thy sin's not accidental but a trade. Shak.
3. Business of any kind; matter of mutual consideration; affair; dealing. [Obs.] Have you any further trade with us Shak.
4. Specifically: The act or business of exchanging commodities by barter, or by buying and selling for money; commerce; traffic; barter.
5. The business which a person has learned, and which he engages in, for procuring subsistence, or for profit; occupation; especially, mechanical employment as distinguished from the liberal arts, the learned professions, and agriculture; as, we speak of the trade of a smith, of a carpenter, or mason, but not now of the trade of a farmer, or a lawyer, or a physician. Accursed usury was all his trade. Spenser. The homely, slighted, shepherd's trade. Milton. I will instruct thee in my trade. Shak.
6. Instruments of any occupation. [Obs.] The house and household goods, his trade of war. Dryden.
7. A company of men engaged in the same occupation; thus, booksellers and publishers speak of the customs of the trade, and are collectively designated as the trade.
8. The trade winds.
9. Refuse or rubbish from a mine. [Prov. Eng.]

Other Definitions

This word also has another definition:

TRADE (verb)

1. To barter, or to buy and sell; to be engaged in the exchange, purchase, or sale of goods, wares, merchandise, or anything else; to traffic; to barg...

Added: October 09, 2025 Updated: October 09, 2025

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