trade

TRAYD/tɹeɪd/

Pluraltrades (some meanings)

Verbtrades, trading, traded

19 meanings of trade

Practice

1
buying and sellingnoununcountable
The buying and selling of goods and services between people or countries.
Like swapping cards with a friend, but with money and on a much bigger scale.
Trade between the two countries grew quickly last year.
The town's wealth came mostly from trade in wool and cloth.
UsageSay trade with a country, and the trade in a product.
Similarcommerce
2
swap thingsverbtransitive
To give something to someone and get something else back from them.
Like swapping lunch snacks so you both end up with something different.
The kids traded stickers during recess.
Let's trade seats so you can see the stage better.
UsageSay trade one thing for another: I traded my apple for a pear.
Similarexchange, swap, switch
Note
3
verbtransitive or intransitive
To buy and sell things, or to run a business.
Like running a stall where you buy and sell things every day.
The company trades all over the world.
Ships from many lands came to the port to trade.
UsageSay trade in a product or trade with a person or country.
Similardeal
Note
4
skilled craftnouncountable
A job that needs special skill with your hands, such as plumbing or carpentry.
Like learning an instrument: it takes practice to do well.
Plumbing is a useful trade to learn.
He learned his trade from his father.
UsageOften in by trade: he is a baker by trade.
Similarcraft, occupation
Note
5
nouncountable
One deal in which something is bought, sold, or swapped.
Like one single swap, where you hand over one thing and get another.
The team made a trade for a fast young pitcher.
Each trade on the floor was written down by hand.
UsageSay make a trade.
Similartransaction, deal, exchange, swap
6
field (business)nouncountable
All the people and companies that work in one kind of business.
Like everyone who works in movies being part of one big group.
The building trade says it needs more young workers.
The whole trade gathered at the yearly conference.
UsageUsually with the: the building trade.
Similarindustry, business
Note
7
be pricedverbintransitive
To be bought and sold at a certain price in a market.
Like a price tag that goes up and down depending on how many people want to buy.
These shares trade at about ten dollars each.
Oil traded lower after the news.
UsageSay a share trades at a price: it traded at $50.
Similarsell
Note

Less common meanings

8
use your nameverbtransitivewith on
With on, to use something you have, like a famous name or good reputation, to get an advantage.
Like using a famous friend's name to get into a party.
Many stars trade on their fame to sell products.
He traded on his family's good name to win the contract.
UsageIt suggests using something a little unfairly: he trades on his fame.
Similarexploit, use, leverage, milk
9
industry papernouncountable or uncountable
Magazines or newspapers made for people who work in one industry, usually called the trades.
Like a magazine made just for one kind of job.
News of the merger first appeared in the trades.
She writes for a trade that covers the toy business.
Similarjournal, periodical, magazine, publication
Note
10
windnouncountable or uncountableplural
A steady wind that blows toward the equator from the east.
Like a giant fan over the sea that always blows the same way.
The trade winds pushed the sailboat steadily west.
Old sailing ships relied on the trades to cross the Atlantic.
UsageOften the trade winds.
Note
11
customersnounUKuncountable
The amount of business that customers bring to a shop.
Like how many customers come through the door each day.
The café does a busy trade on market days.
Bad weather hurt the shop's trade all week.
UsageDo a roaring trade means sell a lot.
Similarpatronage
Note
12
have dealingsverbintransitive
To do business or have dealings with someone.
Like two clubs that often work together and share things.
Many shops will not trade with him anymore.
She only traded with people she trusted.
Similardeal
Note
13
nounslanguncountable
A masculine man who is available for casual sex with other men, sometimes for money.
He picked up some trade near the docks that night.
The club was full of trade looking for company.
UsageAlso in rough trade.
Note
14
nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
A custom, habit, or usual way of doing things, or a job.
Thy sin's not accidental but a trade.
c. 1603, William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”Here, trade means a habit or usual way of doing things.
Long did I love this lady, / Long was my travel, long my trade to win her.
1655, Philip Massinger, John FletcherHere, trade means a steady habit or long effort.
Note
15
nounobsoleteuncountable
The tools or equipment used in a job.
His House and household Gods! his trade of War, / His Bow and Quiver; and his trusty Cur.
1697, John Dryden, “The Third Book of the Georgics”Here, trade means the tools or equipment used in a job.
Note
16
pathnounobsoletecountable or uncountable
A path, track, or way that people travel along.
A postern with a blind wicket there was, / A common trade to pass through Priam's house
1557, Henry Howard, Earl of SurreyHere, trade means a path or way people pass through.
As Shepheardes curre, that in darke eveninges shade / Hath tracted forth some salvage beastes trade
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, trade means a path or track an animal travels along.
Note
17
noun
Short for trade paperback. It means a larger, better-quality paperback book.
18
adjective
Made in large amounts for regular shops, and so only of basic quality.
19
noun
Waste rock and trash left over from mining.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of trade apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

The word came into English from Middle Low German 'trade', meaning 'track' or 'course', brought in by Hanseatic merchants. It goes back to older Germanic words meaning 'track' or 'way' and is related to the word 'tread'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

English 'trade' came from Middle Low German 'trade', meaning 'track' or 'course'. en.wikipedia.org
Hanseatic merchants introduced the word into English. en.wikipedia.org
The word derives from older Germanic words meaning 'track' or 'way'. en.wikipedia.org
'Trade' is etymologically related to 'tread'. en.wikipedia.org