ADJ

brisk, flourishing, lively, roaring, thriving
All around the pyramids, salespeople were doing a roaring trade in souvenirs
lucrative, profitable
external, foreign, global, international, overseas, world
domestic, internal, inter-provincial, inter-regional, regional
export, import, import-export
direct, indirect
free
fair
The organization promotes fair trade with developing countries
legal, legitimate
illegal, illicit
attempts to curb the illicit trade in exotic species
private
bilateral, mutual
unilateral
coastal, maritime
agricultural, commercial
retail, wholesale
It has been a bad year for the retail trade
book, fur, slave, timber, tourist, wine, wool
evil
the evil trade in drugs

VERB + TRADE

carry on, conduct, do, engage in, ply
the tools needed to carry on a trade All manner of hawkers and street sellers were plying their trade
boost, build up, develop, expand, increase, promote
a bid to boost foreign trade He built up a trade in seeds, corn and manure
damage, harm
A bitterly cold winter damaged industrial output and trade
lose
Shops have lost a day's trade
ban, restrict

TRADE + VERB

boom, expand, grow, increase, pick up
decline, fall

TRADE + NOUN

balance, figures, performance, statistics
surplus
deficit, gap, imbalance
barrier, blockade, boycott, embargo, restrictions, sanctions
tariff
dispute, war
The countries were locked in a trade war, refusing to allow imports of each other's goods
liberalization
benefits, concessions
accord, agreement, deal, pact, protocol, treaty
negotiations, talks
cooperation, links, network, relations
policy, practice
The US was accused of employing unfair trade practices
law, rules
bloc
The five countries formed a regional trade bloc
delegation, mission
Several local firms took part in a trade mission to Spain
official, representative
talks between trade officials from the two countries
mark (also trademark), name
exhibition, fair, show
centre
route
The road has been an important trade route since prehistoric times
cycle
the boom and slump periods of a trade cycle
association, body, group, organization
the trade body representing water companies
buyer, customer
The vase was bought by a trade buyer (= for example, somebody who works in the antiques trade)
directory
journal, magazine, paper, press
information, secret
The employees were fired for divulging trade secrets to a competitor

PREP

in a/the ~
She's in the wholesale fruit trade. These special flour sacks are known in the trade as 'pockets'
~ between
Trade between the Adriatic ports and their hinterland had grown
~ in
Steps were taken to ban the trade in ivory
~ with
The US has restricted trade with India

VERB + TRADE

learn
exercise, follow, practise

PREP

by ~
She is a carpenter by trade

PHRASES

a jack of all trades (= a person who can do many different types of work), the tricks of the trade
The experienced artisan would pass on the tricks of the trade to the apprentice