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View synonyms for

traffic

[traf-ik]

noun

  1. the movement of vehicles, ships, persons, etc., in an area, along a street, through an air lane, over a water route, etc..

    the heavy traffic on Main Street.

  2. the vehicles, persons, etc., moving in an area, along a street, etc.

  3. the transportation of goods for the purpose of trade, by sea, land, or air.

    ships of traffic.

  4. trade; buying and selling; commercial dealings.

  5. trade between different countries or places; commerce.

  6. the business done by a railroad or other carrier in the transportation of freight or passengers.

  7. the aggregate of freight, passengers, telephone or telegraph messages, etc., handled, especially in a given period.

  8. communication, dealings, or contact between persons or groups.

    traffic between the Democrats and the Republicans.

  9. mutual exchange or communication.

    traffic in ideas.

  10. trade in some specific commodity or service, often of an illegal nature.

    the vast traffic in narcotics.

  11. illegal commercial trade in human beings for the purpose of exploiting them.

    the traffic in young children.



verb (used without object)

trafficked, trafficking 
  1. to carry on traffic, trade, or commercial dealings.

  2. to trade or deal in a specific commodity or service, often of an illegal nature (usually followed byin ).

    to traffic in opium.

verb (used with object)

trafficked, trafficking 
  1. (of vehicles or persons) to move over or through (a place).

    It's a heavily trafficked bridge.

  2. to trade or deal in (a commodity or service).

    to traffic guns.

  3. to trade in (human beings) for the purpose of exploitation.

    He was convicted for trafficking illegal immigrants.

traffic

/ ˈٰæɪ /

noun

    1. the vehicles coming and going in a street, town, etc

    2. ( as modifier )

      traffic lights

  1. the movement of vehicles, people, etc, in a particular place or for a particular purpose

    sea traffic

    1. the business of commercial transportation by land, sea, or air

    2. the freight, passengers, etc, transported

  2. (usually foll by with) dealings or business

    have no traffic with that man

  3. trade, esp of an illicit or improper kind

    drug traffic

  4. the aggregate volume of messages transmitted through a communications system in a given period

  5. the number of customers patronizing a commercial establishment in a given time period

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (often foll by in) to carry on trade or business, esp of an illicit kind

  2. (usually foll by with) to have dealings

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • trafficker noun
  • trafficless adjective
  • intertraffic noun
  • untrafficked adjective
  • ˈٰڴھ noun
  • ˈٰڴھ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of traffic1

First recorded in 1495–1505; earlier traffyk, from Middle French trafique (noun), trafiquer; (verb) from Italian traffico (noun), trafficare (verb), of disputed origin
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Word History and Origins

Origin of traffic1

C16: from Old French trafique , from Old Italian traffico , from trafficare to engage in trade
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Synonym Study

See trade.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Many people tried to leave for remote areas, away from any possible Israeli target, but could not even get out of the province because of heavy traffic.

From

The world champion narrowed that margin in the final stint but even when traffic in the final stages of the race reduced Russell's lead to a second, he was able to pull away again.

From

If a sinkhole opens up and swallows 10 cars, leaving traffic backed up for miles, people will just abandon their vehicles and walk five miles home.

From

Both Scott Street and South Street remain closed to traffic.

From

She said: "Housing people, including survivors of torture and trafficking, in an isolated, overcrowded camp reminiscent of an open-air prison, with inadequate healthcare and legal services, is an inhumane way to treat those seeking protection."

From

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Trafalgar, Battle oftrafficability