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Ahn Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
meaning of 'trade' in this sentence
TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR ALPHA sounds a pretty intimidating molecule. And, indeed, it is. One of its jobs is to kill cancer cells—or, rather, to persuade them to commit suicide. But its name is a bit misleading. For TNF-a, as it is known in the trade, does more than just shrink tumours. It is one of a group of proteins called cytokines that are used by the immune system to boss other body cells around.
From The Economist print edition
I cannot grasp what 'trade' means in this.
I cannot grasp what 'trade' means in this.
Top answer
Trade = line of business; area of commerce . Here it is a little casually used, since we think of medicine as a profession rather than a commercial enterprise-- nevertheless, here 'as it is known in the trade' means that 'TNF-a' is the established abbreviation (in the area of medical research) for Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha.
- Trade = line of business; area of commerce .
- Here it is a little casually used, since we think of medicine as a profession rather than a commercial enterprise-- nevertheless, here 'as it is known in the trade' means that 'TNF-a' is the established abbreviation (in the area of medical research) for Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha.
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8 Answers
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Trade = line of business; area of commerce. Here it is a little casually used, since we think of medicine as a profession rather than a commercial enterprise-- nevertheless, here 'as it is known in the trade' means that 'TNF-a' is the established abbreviation (in the area of medical research) for Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha.
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You might wish to make a mental note also of the related expression "tools of the trade": the techniques and procedures typically used within a particular area of study, business, or industry by the practitioners of that "trade".
Acoustic engineers are taught Fourier analysis because it is one of the tools of the trade.
CJ
Acoustic engineers are taught Fourier analysis because it is one of the tools of the trade.
CJ
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It sounds very useful expression. Thank you CaifJim.
I also wrote down 'make a mental note' on my note after looking it up in the dictionary. It's new to me.
I also wrote down 'make a mental note' on my note after looking it up in the dictionary. It's new to me.
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CalifJimWow! You're learning by leaps and bounds!I always learn a lot from your reply.
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