traffic Hear it!

traffic Definition

traf·fic (traf′ik)

noun

  1. Archaic
    1. transportation of goods for trading
    2. trading over great distances; commerce
  2. buying and selling; barter; trade, sometimes, specif., of a wrong or illegal kind traffic in drugs
  3. dealings, business, or intercourse (with someone)
    1. the movement or number of automobiles along a street, pedestrians along a sidewalk, ships using a port, etc.
    2. the automobiles, pedestrians, ships, etc. so moving
  5. the number of passengers, quantity of freight, etc. carried by a transportation company during a given period
  6. the volume of telegrams, calls, etc. transmitted by a communications company during a given period
  7. the number of potential customers entering a retail store during a given period

Etymology: Fr trafic < It traffico < trafficare, to trade < L trans, across +It ficcare, to thrust in, bring < VL *figicare, intens. for L figere: see finish

adjective

of or having to do with traffic a traffic violation, traffic manager

intransitive verb -·ficked, -·fick·ing

  1. to carry on traffic, esp. illegal trade (in a commodity)
  2. to have traffic, trade, or dealings (with someone)

traffic Related Forms

traf′·ficker noun

traffic Synonyms

traffic

n.

  1. The flow of transport

    travel, passage, transportation, flux, movement, transfer, transit, ferriage, passenger service, freight shipment, truckage, cartage, influx.

  2. Dealings

    business, commerce, transactions, trade associations, exchange, soliciting, intercourse, familiarity, truck, interchange.

traffic Telecom Definition

The total volume of cells, blocks, frames, packets, calls, messages, or other units of data carried over a circuit or network, or processed through a switch, router, or other system.

traffic Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • generate: Web Links are a good way to generate traffic for your site.
  • divert: For three hours there was chaos, with traffic diverted.
  • motorise: Strictly speaking, when a horse is being ridden along the road, ALL motorized traffic should halt until the horse has passed.

Adjective modifier

  • oncoming: Just a row of tiny little cones, no higher than 6 inches, separating you from oncoming traffic in the other lane.
  • targeted: The Web Traffic Driver The Web Traffic Driver - Driving A Tons Of Targeted Traffic To Your Website!
  • vehicular: Insufficient funding to complete Inner Relief Road and canal bridge in order to relieve central area congestion from vehicular traffic.
  • heavy: An excuse relating to heavy traffic is not normally accepted.
  • one-way: He started well: We had so many chances, it was one-way traffic and we should have won.
  • two-way: Attachments are: For the duration of the Michaelmas Fair, Stratton Way is part closed and part two-way traffic.

Modifies a noun

  • congestion: The plans are part of the Council's ongoing efforts to tackle traffic congestion.
  • jam: That's why bus lanes exist - to free them from the traffic jam caused by all the solitary car drivers.
  • light: Through traffic lights, take left lane over railroad bridge.
  • accident: At just 24 years old, his life ended suddenly in a road traffic accident.
  • warden: He parked on a double yellow line, and Des went into the shop leaving Mick to explain to the traffic warden.
  • flow: The traffic flow works only on a courtesy system down Foster lane.

Noun used with modifier

  • road: At just 24 years old, his life ended suddenly in a road traffic accident.
  • freight: Coventry would also benefit from the overspill of freight traffic from the South East.
  • air: Ocean Terminal I cant believe Ocean Terminal - pity about the air traffic tho ' .
  • passenger: However, within 20 years of completion most of its passenger traffic was lost to the railways.
  • rush: In the middle of rush hour traffic this particular fuckwit had stopped on a roundabout and was reversing back around it.