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general::
noun buying/selling of goods/services ADJ. brisk, flourishing, lively, roaring, thriving All around the pyramids, salespeople were doing a roaring trade in souvenirs. | lucrative, profitable | external, foreign, global, international, overseas, world | domestic, internal, inter-provincial, inter-regional, regional | export, import, import-export | direct, indirect | free | fair The organization promotes fair trade with developing countries. | legal, legitimate | illegal, illicit attempts to curb the illicit trade in exotic species | private | bilateral, mutual | unilateral | coastal, maritime | agricultural, commercial | retail, wholesale It has been a bad year for the retail trade. | book, fur, slave, timber, tourist, wine, wool | evil the evil trade in drugs VERB + TRADE carry on, conduct, do, engage in, ply the tools needed to carry on a trade All manner of hawkers and street sellers were plying their trade. | boost, build up, develop, expand, increase, promote a bid to boost foreign trade He built up a trade in seeds, corn and manure. | damage, harm A bitterly cold winter damaged industrial output and trade. | lose Shops have lost a day's trade. | ban, restrict TRADE + VERB boom, expand, grow, increase, pick up | decline, fall TRADE + NOUN balance, figures, performance, statistics | surplus | deficit, gap, imbalance | barrier, blockade, boycott, embargo, restrictions, sanctions | tariff | dispute, war The countries were locked in a trade war, refusing to allow imports of each other's goods. | liberalization | benefits, concessions | accord, agreement, deal, pact, protocol, treaty | negotiations, talks | cooperation, links, network, relations | policy, practice The US was accused of employing unfair trade practices. | law, rules | bloc The five countries formed a regional trade bloc. | delegation, mission Several local firms took part in a trade mission to Spain. | official, representative talks between trade officials from the two countries | mark (also trademark), name | exhibition, fair, show | centre | route The road has been an important trade route since prehistoric times. | cycle the boom and slump periods of a trade cycle | association, body, group, organization the trade body representing water companies (see also trade union) | buyer, customer The vase was bought by a trade buyer (= for example, somebody who works in the antiques trade). | directory | journal, magazine, paper, press | information, secret The employees were fired for divulging trade secrets to a competitor. PREP. in a/the ~ She's in the wholesale fruit trade. These special flour sacks are known in the trade as ‘pockets’. | ~ between Trade between the Adriatic ports and their hinterland had grown. | ~ in Steps were taken to ban the trade in ivory. | ~ with The US has restricted trade with India.BUSINESS job VERB + TRADE learn | exercise, follow, practise PREP. by ~ She is a carpenter by trade. PHRASES a jack of all trades (= a person who can do many different types of work), the tricks of the trade The experienced artisan would pass on the tricks of the trade to the apprentice.