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n. 1. a. The passage of people or vehicles along routes of transportation. b. Vehicles or pedestrians in transit: heavy traffic on the turnpike; stopped oncoming traffic to let the children cross. 2. a. The commercial exchange of goods; trade. 3. a. The business of moving passengers and cargo through a transportation system. b. The amount of cargo or number of passengers conveyed. 4. a. The conveyance of messages or data through a system of communication: routers that manage internet traffic. b. Messages or data conveyed through such a system: a tremendous amount of telephone traffic on Mother's Day; couldn't download the file due to heavy internet traffic. c. The number of users or visitors, as at a website: attempted to increase traffic with a redesigned homepage. 5. Social or verbal exchange; communication: refused further traffic with the estranged friend. v. traf·ficked, traf·fick·ing, traf·fics intr.v. To carry on trade or other dealings: trafficked in liquidation merchandise; traffic with gangsters. tr.v. To provide to others, especially in large quantities, in exchange for money: was accused of trafficking guns to local gangs. [French trafic, from Old French trafique, from Old Italian traffico, from trafficare, to trade, perhaps from Catalan trafegar, to decant, from Vulgar Latin *trānsfaecāre : trāns-, trans- + faex, faec-, dregs; see FECES.] traffick·er n. |
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