[mar.ket] n, often attrib [ME, fr. ONF, fr. L mercatus trade, marketplace, fr. mercari to trade, fr. merc-, merx merchandise] (12c) 1 a (1): a meeting together of people for the purpose of trade by private purchase and sale and usu. not by auction (2): the people assembled at such a meeting b (1): a public place where a market is held; esp: a place where provisions are sold at wholesale "a farmers' ~" (2): a retail establishment usu. of a specified kind "a fish ~"
2. archaic: the act or an instance of buying and selling
3: the rate or price offered for a commodity or security
4. a (1): a geographical area of demand for commodities or services "the foreign ~ for consulting firms" (2): a specified category of potential buyers "the youth ~" b: the course of commercial activity by which the exchange of commodities is effected: extent of demand "the ~ is dull" c (1): an opportunity for selling "a good ~ for used cars" (2): the available supply of or potential demand for specified goods or services "the labor ~" d: the area of economic activity in which buyers and sellers come together and the forces of supply and demand affect prices "producing goods for ~ rather than for consumption" -- in the market : in the position of being a potential buyer "in the market for a house" -- on the market : available for purchase; also: up for sale "put their house on the market"
[2]market vi (1635): to deal in a market ~ vt 1: to expose for sale in a market
2: sell