If you trade in an old car or appliance, you give it to the person you are buying a new one from so that you pay less.
For his birthday he was given a trumpet, but he traded it in for a guitar. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
She's decided to trade in her Volvo for a Volkswagen. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
2. See also trade-in
See full dictionary entry for trade
trade-in
Word forms: plural trade-ins
countable noun [oft NOUN noun]
A trade-in is an arrangement in which someone buys something such as a new car or washing machine at a reduced price by giving their old one, as well as money, in payment.
...the trade-in value of the car.
trade-in in British English
noun
1.
a.
a used article given in part payment for the purchase of a new article
b.
a transaction involving such part payment
c.
the valuation put on the article traded in
d.
(as modifier)
a trade-in dealer
verbtrade in
2. (tr, adverb)
to give (a used article) as part payment for the purchase of a new article
trade in in American English
US
to give (one's used automobile, etc.) as part of the purchase price of a new one
See full dictionary entry for trade
trade-in in American English
(ˈtreɪdˌɪn)
US
noun
1.
a used car, appliance, etc. given or taken as part payment in the purchase of a new one
2.
a transaction involving a trade-in
3.
the valuation allowed by the seller on a trade-in
Examples of 'trade-in' in a sentence
trade-in
When they left the snow behind Cazaril reluctantly permitted Ferda to trade in their excellent mules for swifter horses.
Lois McMaster Bujold THE CURSE OF CHALION (2001)
There was a blank for the customer's name, address, and trade-in, and business cards had been stapled to the top right of the forms.
Lisa Scottoline RUNNING FROM THE LAW (2001)
In other languages
trade in
British English: trade-in NOUN
A trade-in is an arrangement in which someone buys a new car at a reduced price by giving their old one, as well as money, in payment.