(~s, trading, ~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
Trade is the activity of buying, selling, or exchanging goods or services between people, firms, or countries.
The ministry had direct control over every aspect of foreign ~.
...negotiations on a new international ~ agreement...
Texas has a long history of ~ with Mexico.
N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp
2.
When people, firms, or countries ~, they buy, sell, or exchange goods or services between themselves.
They may refuse to ~, even when offered attractive prices...
They had years of experience of trading with the West...
He has been trading in antique furniture for 25 years.
VERB: V, V with n, V in n
trading
Trading on the stock exchange may be suspended...
N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp
3.
A ~ is a particular area of business or industry.
They’ve completely ruined the tourist ~ for the next few years.
...the arms ~.
N-COUNT: usu supp N
4.
Someone’s ~ is the kind of work that they do, especially when they have been trained to do it over a period of time.
He learnt his ~ as a diver in the North Sea...
Allyn was a jeweller by ~...
N-COUNT: oft poss N, also by N
5.
If someone ~s one thing for another or if two people ~ things, they agree to exchange one thing for the other thing. (mainly AM)
They ~d land for goods and money...
Kids used to ~ baseball cards...
They suspected that Neville had ~d secret information with Mr Foster.
V-RECIP: V n for n (non-recip), pl-n V n, V n with n
•
Trade is also a noun. (in BRIT, use exchange )
I am willing to make a ~ with you...
N-COUNT
6.
If you ~ places with someone or if the two of you ~ places, you move into the other person’s position or situation, and they move into yours. (mainly AM)
Mike asked George to ~ places with him so he could ride with Tod...
The receiver and the quarterback are going to ~ positions.
= exchange
V-RECIP: V n with n, pl-n V n
7.
In professional sports, for example football or baseball, if a player is ~d from one team to another, they leave one team and begin playing for another. (AM; in BRIT, use transfer )
He was ~d from the Giants to the Yankees...
The A’s have not won a game since they ~d him.
VERB: be V-ed, V n
8.
If two people or groups ~ something such as blows, insults, or jokes, they hit each other, insult each other, or tell each other jokes. (mainly AM)
Children would settle disputes by trading punches or insults in the schoolyard...
They ~d artillery fire with government forces inside the city.
= exchange
V-RECIP: pl-n V n, V n with n