traffic
♦ traf|fic /tr'æfɪk/ (traffics trafficking trafficked)
1 [N-UNCOUNT] also the N
Traffic refers to all the vehicles that are moving along the roads in a particular area.
There was heavy traffic on the roads...
...the problems of city life, such as traffic congestion.
see also traffic jam
2 [N-UNCOUNT] with supp, usu n N
Traffic refers to the movement of ships, trains, or aircraft between one place and another. Traffic also refers to the people and goods that are being transported.
Air traffic had returned to normal...
The railways will carry a far higher proportion of freight traffic...
see also air traffic control
3 [N-UNCOUNT] with supp, usu N in n
Traffic in something such as drugs or stolen goods is an illegal trade in them.
Traffic in illicit drugs was now worth some 500 thousand million dollars a year.
4 [VERB] V in n
Someone who traffics in something such as drugs or stolen goods buys and sells them even though it is illegal to do so.
The president said illegal drugs are hurting the entire world and anyone who traffics in them should be brought to justice.
● trafficking [N-UNCOUNT] usu n N
He was sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of drug trafficking.air traf|fic con|trol
1 [N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Air traffic control is the activity of organizing the routes that aircraft should follow, and telling pilots by radio which routes they should take.
...the nation's overburdened air-traffic-control system.
2 [N-UNCOUNT-COLL]
Air traffic control is the group of people who organize the routes aircraft take.
They have to wait for clearance from air traffic control.traf|fic calm|ing
also traffic-calming
[N-UNCOUNT] usu N n
Traffic calming consists of measures designed to make roads safer, for example making them narrower or placing obstacles in them, so that drivers are forced to slow down.
...traffic calming schemes.traf|fic cir|cle (traffic circles)
[N-COUNT]
A traffic circle is a circular structure in the road at a place where several roads meet. You drive round it until you come to the road that you want. (AM; in BRIT, use roundabout)traf|fic cone (traffic cones)
[N-COUNT]
A traffic cone is a plastic object with a pointed top that is placed on a road to prevent people from driving or parking there.traf|fic jam (traffic jams)
[N-COUNT]
A traffic jam is a long line of vehicles that cannot move forward because there is too much traffic, or because the road is blocked by something.traf|fic light (traffic lights)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Traffic lights are sets of red, amber, and green lights at the places where roads meet. They control the traffic by signalling when vehicles have to stop and when they can go. Traffic lights can also be referred to as a traffic light.traf|fic war|den (traffic wardens)
[N-COUNT]
A traffic warden is a person whose job is to make sure that cars are not parked illegally. (mainly BRIT)
1 [N-UNCOUNT] also the N
Traffic refers to all the vehicles that are moving along the roads in a particular area.
There was heavy traffic on the roads...
...the problems of city life, such as traffic congestion.
see also traffic jam
2 [N-UNCOUNT] with supp, usu n N
Traffic refers to the movement of ships, trains, or aircraft between one place and another. Traffic also refers to the people and goods that are being transported.
Air traffic had returned to normal...
The railways will carry a far higher proportion of freight traffic...
see also air traffic control
3 [N-UNCOUNT] with supp, usu N in n
Traffic in something such as drugs or stolen goods is an illegal trade in them.
Traffic in illicit drugs was now worth some 500 thousand million dollars a year.
4 [VERB] V in n
Someone who traffics in something such as drugs or stolen goods buys and sells them even though it is illegal to do so.
The president said illegal drugs are hurting the entire world and anyone who traffics in them should be brought to justice.
● trafficking [N-UNCOUNT] usu n N
He was sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of drug trafficking.air traf|fic con|trol
1 [N-UNCOUNT] oft N n
Air traffic control is the activity of organizing the routes that aircraft should follow, and telling pilots by radio which routes they should take.
...the nation's overburdened air-traffic-control system.
2 [N-UNCOUNT-COLL]
Air traffic control is the group of people who organize the routes aircraft take.
They have to wait for clearance from air traffic control.traf|fic calm|ing
also traffic-calming
[N-UNCOUNT] usu N n
Traffic calming consists of measures designed to make roads safer, for example making them narrower or placing obstacles in them, so that drivers are forced to slow down.
...traffic calming schemes.traf|fic cir|cle (traffic circles)
[N-COUNT]
A traffic circle is a circular structure in the road at a place where several roads meet. You drive round it until you come to the road that you want. (AM; in BRIT, use roundabout)traf|fic cone (traffic cones)
[N-COUNT]
A traffic cone is a plastic object with a pointed top that is placed on a road to prevent people from driving or parking there.traf|fic jam (traffic jams)
[N-COUNT]
A traffic jam is a long line of vehicles that cannot move forward because there is too much traffic, or because the road is blocked by something.traf|fic light (traffic lights)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Traffic lights are sets of red, amber, and green lights at the places where roads meet. They control the traffic by signalling when vehicles have to stop and when they can go. Traffic lights can also be referred to as a traffic light.traf|fic war|den (traffic wardens)
[N-COUNT]
A traffic warden is a person whose job is to make sure that cars are not parked illegally. (mainly BRIT)