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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., verb ADV. profitably, successfully | actively | openly The firm openly traded in arms. | publicly publicly traded securities | freely He claimed that all shops should be able to trade freely on Sundays. | directly | illegally VERB + TRADE continue to | cease to PREP. as They now trade as a partnership. | in countries trading illegally in rhinoceros horn | with Early explorers traded directly with the Indians. PHRASES cease/continue trading The company has now ceased trading. | trade under the name (of) sth The company trades under the name ‘English Estates’.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary