/kom"euhrs/ , n.
1. an interchange of goods or commodities, esp. on a large scale between different countries (foreign commerce) or between different parts of the same country (domestic commerce); trade; business.
2. social relations, esp. the exchange of views, attitudes, etc.
3. sexual intercourse.
4. intellectual or spiritual interchange; communion.
5. ( cap. ) Also called Commerce Department . Informal. the Department of Commerce.
[ 1530-40; commercium, equiv. to commerc ( ari ) to trade together ( com- COM- + mercari to buy, deal, deriv. of merc-, s. of merx goods) + -ium -IUM ]
Syn. 1. See trade .