traffic
noun
Traffic — the flow of exchange between people, goods, or vehicles alike
Definition
Social or verbal interchange (usually followed by `with')
In depth
Traffic, in its older and broader sense, names social or verbal interchange, particularly dealings of a commercial or illicit nature, as in 'traffic with the enemy.' Its far more common modern sense describes the flow and movement of vehicles, but both meanings share the same underlying image of busy, ongoing exchange or passage.
Origin
The word entered English through French trafique, from Italian traffico, of uncertain ultimate origin, possibly related to Latin trans- (across) and facere (to do or make) — suggesting, etymologically, the carrying of goods across distance. Its narrowing toward describing road traffic specifically is a relatively modern development, tied to the rise of motor vehicles in the twentieth century.
Usage examples
"The merchant's traffic with foreign buyers had made him wealthy, and deeply distrusted, in equal measure."
"Rumors of secret traffic between the two rival courts spread through the capital within days."
"The narrow coastal road could not handle the sudden traffic of summer visitors."
How to use it
The older sense of traffic as social or commercial interchange survives mainly in formal, historical, or slightly archaic prose, often with an implication of impropriety, as in 'traffic in stolen goods.' The vehicular sense now dominates everyday usage almost entirely.
Related concepts
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