merchant

Universal Words noun, adjective noun 1 a person who buys and sells goods in large quantities, especially one who imports and exports goods: builders' merchants (= who sell supplies to the building trade) * a coal / wine merchant * Venice was once a city of rich merchants. 2 (informal, disapproving) a person who likes a particular activity: a speed merchant (= sb who likes to drive fast) * noise merchants (= for example, a band who make a lot of noise) IDIOMS see DOOMn. adjective [onlybeforenoun] connected with the transport of goods by sea: merchant navy / ships / seamen