I. ˈmär-kət noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, probably from Continental GMC; akin to Old Saxon markat marketplace, Old High German marcāt, both ultimately from Latin mercatus trade, marketplace, from mercari to trade, from merc-, merx merchandise
Date: 12th century
1.
a.
(1) : a meeting together of people for the purpose of trade by private purchase and sale and usually not by auction
(2) : the people assembled at such a meeting
b.
(1) : a public place where a market is held ; especially : a place where provisions are sold at wholesale
a farmers' market
(2) : a retail establishment usually of a specified kind
a fish market
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 geographic area of demand for commodities or services
(2) : a specified category of potential buyers
the youth market
b. : the course of commercial activity by which the exchange of commodities is effected : extent of demand
the market is dull
c.
(1) : an opportunity for selling
a good market for used cars
(2) : the available supply of or potential demand for specified goods or services
the labor market
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 market rather than for consumption
•
- in the market
- on the market
II. verb
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1. : to expose for sale in a market
2. : sell
intransitive verb
: to deal in a market