traffic

traf•fic

[[t]ˈtræf ɪk[/t]] n. v. -ficked, -fick•ing

1) trs the movement of vehicles, ships, aircraft, persons, etc., in an area or over a route

2) trs the vehicles, persons, etc., moving in an area or over a route

3) trs the transportation of goods for the purpose of trade, by sea, land, or air:

ships of traffic[/ex]

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) trs tgp the aggregate of freight, passengers, telephone or telegraph messages, etc., handled, esp. in a given period

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

9) mutual exchange or communication:

traffic in ideas[/ex]

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

drug traffic[/ex]

11) to carry on traffic, trade, or commercial dealings

12) to trade or deal in a specific commodity or service, often of an illegal nature (usu. fol. by in):

to traffic in opium[/ex]

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Etymology: 1495–1505; earlier traffyk < MF trafique (n.), trafiquer (v.) < It traffico (n.), trafficare (v.) traf′fick•er, n. traf′fic•less, adj.