dry market

English

Noun

dry market (plural dry markets)

1. A market selling clothing, electronics, etc. rather than fresh meat and produce.
2. (Singapore) A market selling fresh meat, produce and other goods with a dry floor, unlike a wet market.
   • 1982 August 7, “HDB's cool, dry markets”, in The Straits Times, Singapore:

     The HDB market of tomorrow will be a combination of stalls in shop units selling both fresh produce and a mini "dry" market for housewives to get her groceries and foodstuff.

   • 1983 January 16, “Round-the-clock shopping”, in Singapore Monitor:

     The supermarket giant has just been given approval by the HDB to operate 24 hours a day. The ground floor will house a supermarket selling fresh and perishable goods, such as fish, meat, vegetables and fruits. Yokoso promises to provide a full range of fresh food supplies - a step towards the development of dry markets in housing estates proposed by the government lately.

Related terms

• wet market