trades
n. C / Un. jobs that require special skills and working with your hands, such as being a plumber or an electrician. People often learn these skills through practice rather than at a university.
n. skilled manual occupations requiring specific training or apprenticeship. Often used collectively to distinguish vocational work from professional or academic careers.
He decided to leave office work and learn one of the skilled trades.
The local college offers several programs for students interested in entering the building trades like carpentry and masonry.
Economic shifts have led to a renewed emphasis on the trades, as the demand for specialized technicians often outstrips the supply of qualified vocational workers.
Usually plural when referring to the category of occupations; singular when referring to a specific craft or the act of buying and selling.
- 01
jack of all trades
One competent in many endeavours, sometimes regarded as not excelling in any of them.
- 02
jack of all trades, master of none
A person who has a competent grasp of many skills but who is not outstanding in any one.
- 03
jill of all trades
A woman competent in many endeavors rather than only one.