资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Market \Mar"ket\, n. [Akin to D. markt, OHG. mark[=a]t,
   merk[=a]t, G. markt; all fr.L. mercatus trade, market place,
   fr. mercari, p. p. mercatus, to trade, traffic, merx, mercis,
   ware, merchandise, prob. akin to merere to deserve, gain,
   acquire: cf. F. march['e]. See {Merit}, and cf. {Merchant},
   {Mart}.]
   1. A meeting together of people, at a stated time and place,
      for the purpose of traffic (as in cattle, provisions,
      wares, etc.) by private purchase and sale, and not by
      auction; as, a market is held in the town every week.

            He is wit's peddler; and retails his wares At wakes,
            and wassails, meetings, markets, fairs. --Shak.

            Three women and a goose make a market. --Old Saying.

   2. A public place (as an open space in a town) or a large
      building, where a market is held; a market place or market
      house; esp., a place where provisions are sold.

            There is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool.
                                                  --John v. 2.

   3. An opportunity for selling anything; demand, as shown by
      price offered or obtainable; a town, region, or country,
      where the demand exists; as, to find a market for one's
      wares; there is no market for woolen cloths in that
      region; India is a market for English goods.

            There is a third thing to be considered: how a
            market can be created for produce, or how production
            can be limited to the capacities of the market. --J.
                                                  S. Mill.

   4. Exchange, or purchase and sale; traffic; as, a dull
      market; a slow market.

   5. The price for which a thing is sold in a market; market
      price. Hence: Value; worth.

            What is a man If his chief good and market of his
            time Be but to sleep and feed ?       --Shak.

   6. (Eng. Law) The privelege granted to a town of having a
      public market.

   Note: Market is often used adjectively, or in forming
         compounds of obvious meaning; as, market basket, market
         day, market folk, market house, marketman, market
         place, market price, market rate, market wagon, market
         woman, and the like.

   {Market beater}, a swaggering bully; a noisy braggart. [Obs.]
      --Chaucer.

   {Market bell}, a bell rung to give notice that buying and
      selling in a market may begin. [Eng.] --Shak.

   {Market cross}, a cross set up where a market is held.
      --Shak.

   {Market garden}, a garden in which vegetables are raised for
      market.

   {Market gardening}, the raising of vegetables for market.

   {Market place}, an open square or place in a town where
      markets or public sales are held.

   {Market town}, a town that has the privilege of a stated
      public market.

资料来源 : WordNet®

market cross
     n : a cross-shaped monument set up in the marketplace of a town
         where public business is often conducted