Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of selling goods for a living: The activity of offering goods for sale, especially by calling out in public or going from place to place.
   • English theoretical physicist (born in 1942): A reference to Stephen Hawking, a renowned scientist known for his work on black holes and cosmology.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Act of selling):

  • The constant hawking of souvenirs by street vendors made the market noisy.
  • He made a living through the hawking of newspapers on the corner.

• Noun (Person, Stephen Hawking):

  • Hawking's book "A Brief History of Time" made complex science accessible to millions.
  • The theories proposed by Hawking revolutionized our understanding of the universe.

Advanced Usage

• "to go hawking": To engage in the activity of selling goods, often by moving around.
  • In the 19th century, many people went hawking their wares in the new towns.

Variants and Related Words

• Hawker (n): A person who sells goods, typically by calling out in the street or going from door to door.
  • The fruit hawker had a loud, clear voice.

Synonyms

• Peddling: Selling goods, especially small items, by traveling from place to place.
• Vending: Selling goods.

Different Meanings

• The word "hawking" is distinct from the verb "to hawk" meaning to clear the throat noisily or to hunt with a trained hawk (falconry). This entry focuses solely on the two noun definitions provided.

Noun

1. the act of selling goods for a living
2. English theoretical physicist (born in 1942)