Sentence:  If anything may be predicted in the quicksilver world of retailing , it seems likely that the suburban branch will come to dominate children 's clothing ( taking the kid downtown <WSD>is</WSD> too much of a production ) , household gadgetry and the discount business in big-ticket items . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)