traf´fic|less

traf|fic «TRAF ihk», noun, verb, -ficked, -fick|ing.

–n.

1. people, automobiles, wagons, ships, or the like, coming and going along a way of travel: »

Police control the traffic in large cities.

2. the act or process of buying and selling; commerce; trade: »

traffic by sea.

3. a) the business done by a railroad line, steamship line, airline, or bus line; number of passengers or amount of freight carried. b) the revenue from this.

4. the total amount of business done by any company or industry within a certain time.

5. the transportation of goods and merchandise for the purpose of trade: »

ships of traffic.

6. Figurative. dealings; association: »

Traffic with criminals is dangerous. An extensive traffic in stolen goods (George Borrow).

–v.i.

1. to carry on trade; buy and sell; exchange: »

The men trafficked with the natives for ivory.

2. to have illicit dealings: »

to traffic in narcotics.

–v.t.

1. to come and go along (a way of travel); traverse: »

a lightly trafficked road.

2. to carry on trade in; buy and sell: »

to traffic illicit merchandise.

╂[< Middle French trafficque < Italian traffico < trafficare < tras- across (< Latin trāns-) + ficcare shove, poke, ultimately < Latin fīgere fix, set]

–traf´fic|less, adjective.