trade
Buying and selling activity
The act of buying and selling things, especially between people or countries.
[someone] is in the trade of [goods/services]
- Global trade has increased significantly in the past decade.
- The country relies heavily on trade with its neighbors.
- Trade between the two nations was halted due to sanctions.
- Many jobs in the city depend on international trade.
- Trade between countries helps them get what they need.
- The city makes money from trade with other towns.
- Trade is important for the local economy.
Buy, sell, or exchange items
To buy, sell, or give something to someone in return for something else.
to trade [something] for [something]
- They trade fresh vegetables for dairy products with neighboring farms.
- He trades stocks on the New York Stock Exchange.
- We traded our old car for a newer model.
- I want to trade my bike for a guitar.
- They trade fruit for bread at the market.
- We traded books after class.
Skilled manual occupation
A type of job where you use your hands or special skills to make or fix things.
- He learned the plumbing trade from his father.
- Many students choose to enter a trade instead of going to university.
- Carpentry is a trade that requires precision and patience.
- She is learning the cooking trade.
- He works in the building trade.
- I want to learn a new trade.
Specific business sector
A part of business that sells certain goods or services.
- She works in the travel trade.
- The diamond trade is heavily regulated.
- He has years of experience in the film trade.
- He works in the car trade.
- My uncle is in the food trade.
- She knows many people in the fashion trade.
Exchange without money
To give something to someone and get something else from them, without paying money.
to trade [something] for [something]
- The children traded sandwiches at lunch.
- They traded baseball cards after school.
- We traded seats so she could sit by the window.
- I traded my apple for his banana.
- They traded toys at the park.
- We traded places on the bus.
- Base: trade
- Plural: trade, trades
- Base: trade
- 3rd Person Singular: trades
- Present Participle: trading
- Past: traded
fair trade
1Ethical trading system
A way of buying and selling things where producers get fair pay and good working conditions.
- I always buy fair trade coffee.
- Fair trade products help farmers earn a better living.
in trade
1Working in commerce
Working in a job that involves buying and selling things.
- Most of his family are in trade.
- She has been in trade since she left school.
trade off
1Balance competing options
To accept having less of one thing so you can have more of another thing.
- You have to trade off quality against price when shopping.
- In this job, we often trade off speed for accuracy.
trade off
1Sacrifice one thing for another
To lose or reduce one thing so you can get something else.
- The engineers traded off image quality for faster loading times.
- Parents often have to trade off convenience against cost when choosing childcare.
- She traded off higher pay for more flexibility.
trade secret
1Confidential business information
Important business information that must be kept secret from other companies.
- The recipe is a closely guarded trade secret.
- They accused him of stealing a trade secret from his former employer.
trade up
1Replace with better version
To get something better than what you have now by giving your old one and paying more money if needed.
- We traded up to a larger apartment last year.
- He decided to trade up his old car for a new model.