ˈtræfɪk n. & v. --n. 1 (often attrib.) a vehicles
moving in a
public highway,
esp. of a specified kind,
density, etc. (heavy traffic on
the M1; traffic warden). b
such movement in the
air or at
sea. 2 (usu. foll. by in)
trade, esp.
illegal (the traffic in drugs). 3 a the
transportation of goods, the
coming and going of
people or goods by road, rail, air, sea, etc. b the persons or goods so transported. 4
dealings or
communication between people etc. (had no traffic
with them). 5 the messages, signals,
etc., transmitted
through a communications
system; the
flow or
volume of such
business. --v. (trafficked, trafficking) 1 intr. (usu. foll. by in) deal in
something, esp. illegally (trafficked in narcotics; traffics in innuendo). 2 tr. deal
in;
barter. øtraffic
circle US a
roundabout. traffic cop esp. US colloq. a traffic
policeman. traffic
island a paved or grassed
area in a road to
divert traffic and
provide a
refuge for pedestrians. traffic
jam traffic at a
standstill because of roadworks, an
accident, etc. traffic-light (or -lights or -signal) a usu.
automatic signal controlling road traffic esp. at junctions by
coloured lights. traffic
sign a sign conveying
information, a
warning, etc., to vehicle-drivers. traffic
warden Brit. a uniformed
official employed to
help control road traffic and esp. parking. øøtrafficker n. trafficless adj. [F traf(f)ique,
Sp. trÁfico,
It. traffico, of unkn. orig.]
