ENGLISH
REFERENCE

trading

n. · adj. · v.
US //ˈtɹeɪdɪŋ// UK //tɹˈeɪdɪŋ// trad·ing
  1. 1 buying and selling (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Economics

    the act of buying and selling things, especially on a large scale or in financial markets.

    the activity or business of buying and selling goods and services, or the exchange of financial assets.

    Example

    Online trading has made it much easier for regular people to buy stocks.

    Example

    The volume of high-frequency trading on the stock exchange has increased significantly over the last decade, leading to concerns about market stability.

    Usage

    Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general activity.

  2. 2 involved in commerce (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    used to describe a person, company, or country that buys and sells things.

    engaged in trade or commerce; used attributively to describe entities or periods involved in commercial exchange.

    Example

    The city has been an important trading centre for hundreds of years.

    Example

    The company released its annual report, highlighting a successful trading year despite the global economic downturn.

    Usage

    Almost always appears before the noun it modifies.

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  1. 3 exchanging (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the action of exchanging one thing for another.

    the present participle or gerund of 'trade', describing the ongoing act of exchange.

    Example

    I am thinking of trading my old car for a newer model.

    Example

    By trading information with their competitors, the two firms managed to establish a more efficient supply chain.

    Usage

    Often followed by the preposition 'for' or 'with'.

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