trading

1. 1
   financial marketsnoununcountable

   The buying and selling of stocks, currencies, commodities, and other assets on a market or exchange.

   Shares of the airline jumped 12 percent in early trading on Monday.

   Currency trading volumes surged after the central bank's surprise announcement.

   UsageOften with timing and amount words: shares rise in early trading or fall in heavy trading; trading volume measures activity.

   Similardealing

2. 2
   verb

   Present participle of trade.

   The firm is trading heavily in foreign currencies this quarter.

   The kids spent the afternoon on the porch trading baseball cards with each other.

   UsageKeeps the verb's prepositions: trading in oil, shares trading at $40. Trading on a name means using it for advantage.

   Note

   One -ing form does two jobs. It carries the progressive (the firm is trading heavily), and it stands as a gerund in noun positions (trading on margin is risky).

3. 3
   commerce-basedadjective

   Of a person, company or country, doing business by buying and selling, as in a trading company or a trading nation.

   The trading houses of Amsterdam dominated European commerce for decades.

   Singapore grew into one of the world's busiest trading hubs.

   UsageComes before a noun, as in trading partner, trading house and trading post.

   Similarcommercial, mercantile

4. 4
   noununcountable

   The activity of buying and selling goods or services as an ongoing business.

   Trading in spices made the port city enormously wealthy.

   Trading with coastal towns brought salt and iron to the mountain villages.

   UsageFollowed by in for the goods (trading in spices) and with for the partner (trading with coastal towns).

   Similarcommerce, dealing, business

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