/ ˈmɑːkɪt; NAmE ˈmɑːrk-/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] an occasion when people buy and sell goods; the open area or building where they meet to do this :
a fruit / flower / antiques market
an indoor / a street market
market stalls / traders
We buy our fruit and vegetables at the market .
Thursday is market day .
a market town (= a town in Britain where a regular market is or was held)
—see also farmers' market
2.
[ sing. ] business or trade, or the amount of trade in a particular type of goods :
the world market in coffee
They have increased their share of the market by 10%.
the property / job market (= the number and type of houses, jobs, etc. that are available)
They have cornered the market in sportswear. (= sell the most)
3.
[ C ] a particular area, country or section of the population that might buy goods :
the Japanese market
the global / domestic market
4.
[ sing. ] market (for sth) the number of people who want to buy sth
SYN demand :
a growing / declining market for second-hand cars
5.
(often the market ) [ sing. ] people who buy and sell goods in competition with each other :
The market will decide if the TV station has any future.
a market-based / market-driven / market-led economy
—see also black market , market forces
6.
[ C ] = stock market :
the futures market
a market crash
HELP NOTE : There are many other compounds ending in market . You will find them at their place in the alphabet.
•
IDIOMS
- in the market for sth
- on the market
- on the open market
- play the market
—more at buyer , price verb , seller
■ verb
[ vn ] market sth (to sb) (as sth) to advertise and offer a product for sale; to present sth in a particular way and make people want to buy it
SYN promote :
It is marketed as a low-alcohol wine.
School meals need to be marketed to children in the same way as other food.
—see also marketing
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English , via Anglo-Norman French from Latin mercatus , from mercari buy, from merx , merc- merchandise.