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open-air market

open-air market

2 1.6
A market that takes place outdoors where stalls sell food and other goods
  • noun
  • /ˈoʊpən ɛr ˈmɑrkɪt/
translation icon : mercado al aire libre
  • Every Saturday, we visit the local open-air market to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.

Examples

  • Emilio makes his way briskly through the crowded street and turns into an open-air market.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The open-air market was crowded, and Rachel had to weave in and around people to see the stalls.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Small town same day establishing shot of Drew stopping in a small town, in the middle of an open-air market.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I stumbled across a festival, an open-air market, and a Max Brenner Chocolate Restaurant on this trip.

    Blog text (15)
  • The abundance of these crops is best seen in the vast open-air markets that operate on a five-day rotation.

    Academic text (2004)
  • An open-air market filled with vendors' carts selling everything from candy to suspenders.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Later, she shops in the open-air market, spending hours picking out the freshest vegetables; this reminds her of Gu.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Because today was Wednesday, she knew that the women across the road were headed for the huge open-air market that was held twice a week on the main square in Morlands, just outside the old Mackenzie house.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Lauren buys bananas at the open-air market on Glaber Avenue.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The open-air market was bustling with vendors selling homemade goods and delicious street food.

Synonyms

market
vsopen-air market
707 1.0

A place where people buy and sell food and other items

focuses specifically on outdoor vendors and public street selling
flea market
vsopen-air market
37 2.3

An outdoor market where people sell used things like clothes or furniture

covers a wider range of new and food goods sold outdoors
marketplace
vsopen-air market
30 1.8

An open area or building in a town where people buy and sell goods

emphasizes outdoor setting and vendor stalls rather than any building use
farmer's market
vsopen-air market
23 2.3

An outdoor market where people who grow food sell fresh fruit and vegetables directly to customers

is more general and includes non-farmer vendors as well
bazaar
vsopen-air market
17 3.4

A busy market with many small shops selling goods, often outdoors

is focused on outdoor stalls rather than built shop clusters
souk
vsopen-air market
6 8.9

An open-air market in an Arab town with many stalls selling food and goods

is the general outdoor selling place without specific cultural framing
greenmarket
vsopen-air market
1 3.5

An outdoor market where farmers sell fresh fruits and vegetables directly

is broader, selling food and other goods from various vendors
open-air marketplace
vsopen-air market
3.3

An outdoor place where people sell food and crafts

has identical meaning but differs only in phrasing and compound form
market place
vsopen-air market
1.0

An open town area where people meet to buy and sell goods

stresses outdoor vendors and public selling rather than the urban location

How Sheltered

indoor
93 1.0
open-air market
2 1.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

open-air + market

The meaning 'a market held outdoors' is directly derivable from combining 'open-air' (outdoors) with 'market' (place where goods are sold). This compositional pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Open-air market comes from the simple picture of stalls with no roof: open to the air and sky, where sellers set up tables to sell food and goods. That's why the term means 'a market held outdoors'.