n. 1. A combination of independent business organizations formed to regulate production, pricing, and marketing of goods by the members. 2. An official agreement between governments at war, especially one concerning the exchange of prisoners. 3. A group of parties, factions, or nations united in a common cause; a bloc. [German Kartell, from French cartel, from Italian cartello, placard, from Medieval Latin cartellus, charter, diminutive of Latin charta, carta, paper made from papyrus; see CARD1.] |
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