barter Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an equal exchange
    swop; swap; trade.
    • we had no money so we had to live by barter
  2. verb exchange goods without involving money

WordNet

Bar"ter intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. bartren, OF. barater, bareter, to cheat, exchange, perh. fr. Gr. to do, deal (well or ill), use practices or tricks, or perh. fr. Celtic; cf. Ir. brath treachery, W. brad. Cf. Barrator.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Bartered (); present participle & verbal noun Bartering
Definitions
  1. To traffic or trade, by exchanging one commodity for another, in distinction from a sale and purchase, in which money is paid for the commodities transferred; to truck.
Bar"ter transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To trade or exchange in the way of barter; to exchange (frequently for an unworthy consideration); to traffic; to truck; -- sometimes followed by away; as, to barter away goods or honor.
Bar"ter noun
Definitions
  1. The act or practice of trafficking by exchange of commodities; an exchange of goods.
    The spirit of huckstering and barter. Burke.
  2. The thing given in exchange. Syn. -- Exchange; dealing; traffic; trade; truck.

Webster 1913