Definition of: commerce

(kom′ərs) noun
1. Exchange of goods, products, or property, as between states or nations; extended trade.
2. Familiar or social intercourse.
3. A card game in which the hands are varied by exchanging cards.
4. Sexual intercourse. See synonyms under BUSINESS, INTERCOURSE.
—Department of Commerce An executive department of the U.S. government established in 1913 (from 1903 to 1913 part of the Department of Commerce and Labor), headed by the Secretary of Commerce, which fosters, promotes, and develops foreign and domestic commerce, the mining, manufacturing, shipping, and fishing industries, and transportation facilities.
—v.i. (kə·mûrs′) ·merced, ·merc·ing To have intercourse; associate; commune. [<F <L commercium <com- together + merx, mercis wares]
—com·merc′er noun