Commerce — Defs

01 n. The exchange or buying and selling of commodities; esp. the exchange of merchandise, on a large scale, between different places or communit…

1.
The exchange or buying and selling of commodities; esp. the exchange of merchandise, on a large scale, between different places or communities; extended trade or traffic.
“The public becomes powerful in proportion to the opulence and extensive commerce of private men.” — Hume.
2.
Social intercourse; the dealings of one person or class in society with another; familiarity.
“Fifteen years of thought, observation, and commerce with the world had made him [Bunyan] wiser.” — Macaulay.
3.
Sexual intercourse.
4.
A round game at cards, in which the cards are subject to exchange, barter, or trade.

Phrases & compounds

Chamber of commerce — See Chamber.

02 v. i. To carry on trade; to traffic.

imp. & p. p. Commerced; p. pr. & vb. n. Commercing

1.
To carry on trade; to traffic.[Obs.]
“Beware you commerce not with bankrupts.” — B. Jonson.
2.
To hold intercourse; to commune.
“Commercing with himself.” — Tennyson.

“Musicians . . . taught the people in angelic harmonies to commerce with heaven.” — Prof. Wilson.