trades

Noun

• the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
• the skilled practice of a practical occupation
• the business given to a commercial establishment by its customers
• a particular instance of buying or selling
• people who perform a particular kind of skilled work
• steady winds blowing from east to west above and below the equator
• an equal exchange
• plural of trade
• Ellipsis of building and manufacturing trades (“the vocations of skilled blue-collar workers; the workforce in these vocations”).
• Ellipsis of trade publications (“publications within an industry or group of related industries, reporting industry-related news and editorials (and usually also advertising) to people in those vocations (workers and managers)”).
• Ellipsis of trade winds (“steady winds blowing from east to west above and below the equator”).

Verb

• engage in the trade of
• turn in as payment or part payment for a purchase
• be traded at a certain price or under certain conditions
• exchange or give (something) in exchange for
• do business; offer for sale as for one's livelihood
• third-person singular simple present indicative of trade

Examples

• "He decided to go into the trades because in the 21st century it seemed like a safer career move, in terms of wage rates, than becoming just another mediocre college graduate among a sea thereof."
• "Rumors about layoffs are all over the trades."
• "They rode the trades going west."

Synonyms

barter, business deal, craft, deal, merchandise, patronage, sell, swap, switch, swop, trade, trade in, trade wind