I. ˈtrafik, -fēk noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle French trafique, from Old Italian traffico, from trafficare
1.
a. : commercial activity usually involving import and export trade
nurtured by land and water traffic , it grew into a commercial center — American Guide Series: Arkansas
b. : the activity of exchanging commodities by bartering or buying and selling
traffic with the Indians, exchanging jewelry for horses
perishable and livestock traffic … consigned to other than morning markets — Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
middle classes … conducting the traffic by which they live — Agnes Repplier
proud of his snug traffic in rich men's bonds, mortgages and deeds — Leo Marx
c. : illegal or disreputable usually commercial activity
a few such experiences sent him back to the narcotics traffic — Frank O'Leary
traffic in honors … and pardons was incessant — T.B.Macaulay
evidence of Red traffic in contraband arms — Wall Street Journal
prohibit transportation in interstate commerce for the white slave traffic — Congressional Record
2.
a. : communication or dealings between individuals or groups : intercourse , business
held that there was no traffic between the human and the divine — John Buchan
realized for us in the three-hours traffic of the stage — J.I.M.Stewart
don't want any more traffic with his sort
for through our lively traffic all the day — W.H.Auden
b. : reciprocal giving and receiving : exchange
facilitate a lively traffic in ideas — F.L.Allen
3.
a. archaic : goods
you'll see a draggled damsel … her fishy traffic bear — John Gay
b. traffics plural : cargo
move bulk traffics over long distances at reasonable speeds — P.E.Garbutt
4.
a.
(1) : the circulation (as of vehicles or pedestrians) through an area : passage to and fro
flooring … suitable for light traffic — National Fire Codes
heavy lake traffic during the summer months
(2) : the flow of vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes (as along a street or sidewalk or air or sea lane)
will open a needed avenue … for passenger and freight traffic — M.M.Lilly & G.H.Kester
the full flood of the Christmas traffic — Compton Mackenzie
b.
(1) : the vehicles or pedestrians moving along a route
air and sea traffic will be notified — Science
construction of the building attracted the interest of sidewalk traffic
(2) : the volume of vehicles or pedestrians moving along a route
engineers … who tabulate the traffic — A.W.Baum
c.
(1) : the information or signals transmitted or received over a communications system : messages
made arrangements for an interchange of traffic with other lines — H.W.Faulkner
(2) : the flow of messages or signals through a communications system
radio traffic has stepped up enormously — Pat Frank
d. : the volume of customers visiting a business establishment
floor traffic in its showroom was up 60 percent — Newsweek
5.
a. : the number of passengers or amount of cargo carried by a transportation system
railroads handled more traffic than in the previous peak year — E.C.Helmreich
oceangoing passenger traffic — Current Biography
b. : the business of transporting passengers or freight
proposals … to get a proper share of international air traffic — C.H.Grattan
plans for a resurrected river traffic — American Guide Series: Minnesota
6. : traffic department
•
- the traffic will bear
II. “, esp in pres part -fək verb
also traf·fick “
( traf·ficked ; trafficked ; trafficking ; traffics also trafficks )
Etymology: Middle French trafiquer, from Old Italian trafficare
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to engage in commercial activity : buy and sell regularly : trade
got my living for a while by … trafficking in rabbit skins — Augusta Gregory
last of the impresarios … who trafficked in art in the grand manner — Bernard Simon
b. : to engage in illegal or disreputable business or activity
began to traffic in army promotions — Geoffrey Bruun
2. : to carry on communication or negotiation : deal , bargain
will not traffic with the breakers of the peace — H.S.Truman
convinced himself … the child was trafficking with bards, or druids, or witches — W.B.Yeats
3. : to concentrate one's effort or interest : specialize
virtuoso soloists … continue to traffic in the well-worn favorites — Lawrence Morton
characteristic of a medium which traffics in comedy extremes — Newsweek
4. : to pass to and fro : wander
spilled out of their houses to laugh and traffic along its … streets — Lucy Embury
transitive verb
1. : to journey over : travel
most heavily trafficked highway in the state — American Guide Series: Vermont
venture to traffic them in the day, but few would risk such perilous thoroughfares by night — F.S.Merryweather
2. : to make an exchange of : trade , barter
pies and cakes being trafficked back and forth across the street — Arthur Miller