- 1[uncountable] the activity of buying and selling or of exchanging goods or services between people or countries international/foreign trade Trade between the two countries has increased. the international trade in oil the arms, drug, etc. trade see balance of trade, fair-trade, free trade Topic CollocationsBusinessrunning a business
- buy/acquire/own/sell a company/firm/franchise
- set up/establish/start/start up/launch a business/company
- run/operate a business/company/franchise
- head/run a firm/department/team
- make/secure/win/lose/block a deal
- expand/grow/build the business
- boost/increase investment/spending/sales/turnover/earnings/exports/trade
- increase/expand production/output/sales
- boost/maximize production/productivity/efficiency/income/revenue/profit/profitability
- achieve/maintain/sustain growth/profitability
- cut/reduce/bring down/lower/slash costs/prices
- announce/impose/make cuts/cutbacks
- break into/enter/capture/dominate a market
- capture/gain/grab/take/win/boost/lose market share
- identify/find/build/create a market for something
- start/launch an advertising/a marketing campaign
- develop/launch/promote a product/Web site
- estimate/assess/create/generate demand for your product
- attract/get/retain/keep/help customers/clients
- drive/generate/boost/increase demand/sales
- beat/keep ahead of/out-think/outperform/ (informal) stymie the competition
- meet/reach/exceed/miss sales targets
- draw up/set/present/propose/agree on/approve a budget
- keep to/balance/cut/reduce/slash the budget
- be/come in below/under/over/within budget
- generate income/revenue/profit(s)/funds/business
- fund/finance a campaign/a venture/an expansion/spending/a deficit
- provide/raise/allocate capital/funds
- attract/encourage investment/investors
- recover/recoup costs/losses/an investment/an outlay
- get/obtain/offer somebody/grant somebody credit/a loan
- apply for/raise/secure/arrange/provide financing
- lose business/trade/customers/sales/revenue
- accumulate/accrue/incur/run up debts
- suffer/sustain enormous/heavy/serious losses
- face cuts/a deficit/bankruptcy/a shortfall
- declare/file for/enter/avoid/escape bankruptcy
- liquidate a company/a business/assets
- survive/weather a recession/downturn
- propose/seek/block/oppose a merger
- launch/make/accept/contest/defeat a takeover bid
- facilitate/regulate trade (with other countries)
- form/join a trading bloc
- live in/compete in a global/the world economy
- support/promote free trade
- adopt/call for/oppose protectionist measures
- erect/impose/reduce/remove trade barriers
- impose/lift/raise/eliminate import tariffs (on something)
- have/run a huge/large/growing trade surplus/deficit
- embrace/resist/drive globalization
- handle/talk about/discuss foreign policy
- pursue an aggressive/a hawkish foreign policy
- require/use/conduct diplomacy
- establish/break off/sever/restore diplomatic relations/ties
- foster/promote/strengthen regional cooperation
- facilitate/achieve economic/political integration
- exercise/defend/protect/transfer/restore/regain national/state/full/limited sovereignty
- consolidate/extend/lose/retain your power (in the region)
- hold/maintain/change/alter/shift the balance of power (in the region)
- cause/create/open/expose/heal/repair a deep/growing/major/serious rift between X and Y
- have/hold/host/attend an international conference/an economic forum/a G20 summit
- lead/launch a new round of global/multilateral/world trade negotiations
- send/head/lead/meet a high-level/an official/a trade delegation
- facilitate/begin/start/continue/resume peace talks
- be committed to/be opposed to/disrupt/undermine/derail/sabotage the peace process
- negotiate/achieve a lasting political settlement
- broker/sign a peace deal/agreement/treaty
- be/constitute/pose a threat to global security
- compromise/endanger/protect national security
- justify/be in favor of/support/be against/oppose military intervention
- threaten/authorize/launch/take/support/oppose unilateral/preemptive military action
- impose/enforce/lift/end economic sanctions/an arms embargo/a naval blockade
- close/protect/secure/patrol the border
- lead/be involved in a peacekeeping operation
- negotiate/announce a $15 billion aid package/an economic stimulus package
- send/provide/request/cut off military aid
- bring/provide emergency/humanitarian relief
- deliver/distribute medical supplies/food supplies
- fund/run a foreign/a local/an international NGO
- reduce/eradicate/combat/fight child/global/world poverty
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- 2[countable] a particular type of business the building/food/tourist, etc. trade He works in the retail trade (= selling goods in stores). see rag trade
- 3the trade [singular] a particular area of business and the people or companies that are connected with it They offer discounts to the trade (= to people who are working in the same business). a trade magazine/journal Their company is respected and well known in the trade. see stock-in-trade
- 4[uncountable, countable] the amount of goods or services that you sell synonym business Trade was very good last month.
- 5[uncountable, countable] a job, especially one that involves working with your hands and that requires special training and skills He was a carpenter by trade. When she leaves school, she wants to learn a trade. She was surrounded by the tools of her trade (= everything she needs to do her job). Thesauruswork
- employment
- career
- profession
- occupation
- trade
- work the job that someone does, especially in order to earn money:It's very difficult to find work at the moment. He's been out of work for months.
- employment (somewhat formal) work, especially when it is done to earn money; the state of being employed or the situation in which people have work:The company has employment opportunities right now.
- career the job or series of jobs that someone has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibility as time passes:She had a very distinguished career in medicine.
- profession a type of job that needs special training or skill, especially one that needs a high level of education:He hopes to enter the medical profession. The profession is all the people who work in a particular profession:the legal profession. The professions is an old-fashioned term for the traditional jobs that need a high level of education and training, such as being a doctor or lawyer.
- occupation (somewhat formal) a job or profession:Please state your name, age, and occupation.
- trade a job, especially one that involves working with your hands and requires special training and skills:Carpentry is a highly skilled trade.
- (a) full-time/part-time work/employment/career/occupation
- permanent/temporary work/employment
- (a) well-paid work/employment/profession/occupation
- (a) low-paid work/employment/occupation
- to look for/seek/find/have work/employment/a career/an occupation
- to get/obtain/give somebody/offer somebody/create/generate/provide work/employment
- 6[countable] (in sports) the act of exchanging a player on one team for a player on another team Idioms
to sell a lot of something very quickly The ice-cream vendors were doing a roaring trade.
a person who can do many different types of work, but who perhaps does not do them very well
to do your work or business This is the restaurant where he plied his trade as a cook. Drug dealers openly plied their trade in front of children.
skillful ways of doing things that are known and used by people who do a particular job or activity
Check pronunciation: trade