trade

II. trade² S3 W2 BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: noun: ↑trade, ↑trader, ↑trading; verb: ↑trade]
1. [intransitive and transitive] to buy and sell goods, services etc as your job or business
trade with
India began trading with Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries.
trade in
The company trades in silk, tea, and other items.
They had to travel into town to trade the produce from their farm.
2. [intransitive] British English to exist and operate as a business:
The firm now trades under the name Lanski and Weber.
cease trading (=stop being a business because you are bankrupt)
3. [transitive usually passive] to buy or sell something on the ↑stock exchange:
Over a million shares were traded today.
4. trade insults/blows etc to insult or hit each other during an argument or fight
5. [intransitive and transitive] especially American English to exchange something you have for something someone else has SYN swap British English:
We traded necklaces.
trade something with somebody
I wouldn’t mind trading jobs with her.
trade (somebody) something for something
I’ll trade you my camera for your drill.
trade at something phrasal verb
if shares etc trade at a particular price, they cost that amount to buy
trade down phrasal verb
to replace something you own with something cheaper, or buy a cheaper type of thing than before
trade down to
Many of their customers are trading down to cheaper cigarettes.
trade something ↔ in phrasal verb
to give something such as a car to the person you are buying a new one from, as part of the payment
trade something ↔ in for
He traded his old car in for a new model.
⇨ ↑trade-in
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ exchange to give something to someone, and receive a similar thing from them at the same time. Exchange is often used about people telling each other about their ideas, phone numbers, addresses etc: They exchanged photographs before they met. | a place where people can exchange ideas | We exchanged email addresses. | if you are unhappy with the jacket, you can always take it back and exchange it for another one. | These coupons can be exchanged for meals and accommodation.
▪ change to exchange something, especially money. Also used in British English about exchanging something you have bought for something different: I need to change some dollars. | She changed all her money into euros. | We thought it was time we changed our car for something more modern.
▪ swap (also do a swap British English) informal to give something to someone, who gives you something similar: The two schools use the Internet to swap pictures, stories, and jokes. | I like your room better – do you want to do a swap?
▪ trade (also do a trade American English) to exchange something that you have for something that someone else has: The stolen phones are being traded for drugs. | The boys trade sports cards on the playground. | We've got lots of plants we don't need – do you want to do a trade?
▪ switch to change the places of two or more people or things, so that each one is in the place the other was before: Can I switch seats with you?
▪ reciprocate to do or give something, because someone has done or given something similar to you – a rather formal use: They invited us to dinner a while ago, and I'd like to reciprocate.
▪ in exchange/return (for something) if you give something in exchange or in return for something else, you give it in order to get something else back: Williams will plead guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence.
trade something ↔ off phrasal verb
to balance one situation or quality against another, in order to produce an acceptable result
trade something ↔ off for/against
Companies are under pressure to trade off price stability for short-term gains.
⇨ ↑trade-off
trade on/upon something phrasal verb
to use a situation or someone’s kindness in order to get an advantage for yourself:
If you ask me, they’re just trading on Sam’s good nature.
trade up phrasal verb
to replace something you own with something better, or buy a better type of thing than before
trade up to/from
It also encourages existing home owners to trade up to larger accommodation.