# trade

/ˈtɹeɪd/ (US) · /tɹˈeɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trade
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. buying and selling

noun · CEFR B1

the activity of buying, selling, or exchanging goods and services between people or countries.

For teachers: the general activity of commercial exchange involving goods and services on a local or international scale.

- The new treaty aims to increase trade between the two neighbouring countries.
- Global trade patterns shifted significantly following the introduction of new tariffs on imported electronic components.

### 2. skilled job

noun · CEFR B1

a job that needs special skills and training, usually working with your hands, like a plumber or electrician.

For teachers: a manual or technical occupation requiring specific apprenticeship or vocational training.

- After finishing school, he decided to learn a trade and became a carpenter.
- The local college offers several vocational courses for students looking to enter a skilled trade such as masonry or welding.

### 3. an exchange

noun · CEFR B1

an act of giving one thing and receiving another thing in return.

For teachers: a specific instance of bartering or swapping one item for another.

- I'll give you my sandwich for your apple—is it a trade?
- The two collectors agreed on a trade, exchanging a rare postage stamp for a first-edition comic book.

### 4. business activity

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

the amount of business or number of customers a shop or company has.

For teachers: the volume of commercial activity or custom received by a business establishment.

- The café does a lot of trade during the lunch hour.
- Local retailers reported a sharp decline in trade after the new shopping mall opened on the outskirts of town.

### 5. industry people

noun · CEFR B2

the people or companies that work in a particular type of business.

For teachers: the collective body of individuals and companies engaged in a specific industry.

- This magazine is not for the general public; it is only for the building trade.
- The annual convention provides an opportunity for members of the book trade to network and discuss emerging digital trends.

### 6. to buy and sell

verb · CEFR B1

to buy and sell goods or services as a business.

For teachers: to engage in the commercial purchase and sale of commodities or financial instruments.

- The company trades in exotic spices from all over the world.
- The stock was suspended from the exchange after it began to trade at an unusually high volume without explanation.

### 7. to exchange

verb · CEFR B1

to give something to someone and get something else from them.

For teachers: to give something in exchange for something else; often used with 'for' or 'with'.

- The kids like to trade football cards during their lunch break.
- He was willing to trade his privacy for the chance to become a famous actor.

### 8. to exploit a name

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to use a famous name or a good reputation to help you succeed.

For teachers: to use or exploit a particular quality, name, or reputation to one's advantage; usually followed by 'on'.

- The restaurant is trading on its old reputation, but the food isn't good anymore.
- The politician was accused of trading on his father's famous name rather than presenting his own policy ideas.

### 9. basic quality

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing a product made for general sale that is simple or basic in quality.

For teachers: denoting a product intended for the general retail market, typically of standard or utility quality.

- We used trade paint for the hallway because it was cheaper for a large area.
- The contractor recommended trade-grade fixtures to keep the renovation costs within the client's strict budget.

## Examples

- The two countries signed a new agreement to increase trade.
- After finishing high school, he decided to learn a trade and became a successful electrician.
- Economists argue that free trade benefits all participating nations by allowing them to specialise in industries where they hold a comparative advantage.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.