I. ˈbär]d.ər, ˈbȧ], ]tə(r) verb
( bartered ; bartered ; bartering ]d.əriŋ, ]təriŋ also ].triŋ ; barters )
Etymology: Middle English bartren, from Middle French barater to cheat, exchange
intransitive verb
1. : to trade by exchanging one commodity for another
bartered for furs with tobacco and rum
: truck
stores bartering with farmers
2. : to trade in intangible or nonmaterial values
barter for success at the price of happiness
transitive verb
1. : to trade or exchange by bartering
Indians … bartered their services for “ironmongery” — C.B.Hitchcock
2. : to trade or exchange (as an ideal or intangible value) for a material or unworthy consideration — often used with away
would cheerfully barter away all the social gains of the last century for one first-class new symphony — Hunter Mead
II. noun
( -s )
1. : the act or practice of carrying on trade by bartering : an exchange of goods for goods
the former system of barter has virtually ceased to exist, replaced by money economy — H.S.Tschopik
2. : the thing given in exchange in bartering
the trinkets were barter for food and manual service from the natives