1
N‑UNCOUNT
Trade
is the activity of buying, selling, or exchanging goods or services between people, firms, or countries. □
The ministry had direct control over every aspect of foreign trade.
□
…negotiations on a new international trade agreement.
□ [+ with
]
Texas has a long history of trade with Mexico.
2
VERB
When people, firms, or countries
trade
, they buy, sell, or exchange goods or services between themselves. □ [V
]
They may refuse to trade, even when offered attractive prices.
□ [V
+ with
]
Australia and New Zealand trade extensively with each other.
□ [V
+ in
]
He has been trading in antique furniture for 25 years.
●
trad|ing
N‑UNCOUNT
□
Trading on the stock exchange may be suspended.
3
N‑COUNT
A
trade
is a particular area of business or industry. □
They've completely ruined the tourist trade for the next few years.
□
…the arms trade.
4
N‑COUNT
[oft poss N
, oft by
N
] Someone's
trade
is the kind of work that they do, especially when they have been trained to do it over a period of time. □
He learnt his trade as a diver in the North Sea.
□
Allyn was a jeweller by trade.
5
VERB
If someone
trades
one thing for
another or if two people
trade
things, they agree to exchange one thing for the other thing. [mainly AM
] □ [V
n + for
]
They traded land for goods and money.
□ [V
n]
Kids used to trade baseball cards.
□ [V
n + with
]
They suspected that Neville had traded secret information with Mr Foster.
● N‑COUNT
Trade
is also a noun. □ [+ with
]
I am willing to make a trade with you.
[in BRIT, use exchange
]
6
VERB
If you
trade
places with
someone or if the two of you
trade
places, you move into the other person's position or situation, and they move into yours. [mainly AM
] □ [V
n + with
]
Mike asked George to trade places with him so he could ride with Tod.
□ [V
n]
The receiver and the quarterback are going to trade positions.
7
VERB
In professional sports, for example football or baseball, if a player
is traded
from one team to another, they leave one team and begin playing for another. [AM
] □ [be
V
-ed]
He was traded from the Giants to the Yankees.
□ [V
n]
The A's have not won a game since they traded him.
in BRIT, use transfer
8
VERB
If two people or groups
trade
something such as blows, insults, or jokes, they hit each other, insult each other, or tell each other jokes. [mainly AM
] □ [V
n]
Children would settle disputes by trading punches or insults in the schoolyard.
□ [V
n + with
]
They traded artillery fire with government forces inside the city.
▸
trade down
PHRASAL VERB
If someone
trades down
, they sell something such as their car or house and buy a less expensive one. □ [V
P
+ to
]
They are selling their five-bedroom house and trading down to a two-bedroom cottage.
▸
trade in
1
PHRASAL VERB
If you
trade in
an old car or appliance, you give it to the person you are buying a new one from so that you pay less. □ [V
n P
]
For his birthday he was given a trumpet, but he traded it in for a guitar.
□ [V
P
n]
She's decided to trade in her Volvo for a Volkswagen.
2
→ see also
trade-in
▸
trade off
1
PHRASAL VERB
If you
trade off
one thing against
another, you exchange all or part of one thing for another, as part of a negotiation or compromise. □ [V
P
n + against
]
Economic policy is about trading off costs against benefits.
□ [V
P
n + for
]
I get up early and trade off sleep for exercise.
2
→ see also
trade-off
