auction
[ awk-shuh n ]
/ ˈɔk ʃən /
noun
Also called public sale.
a publicly held sale at which property or goods are sold to the highest bidder.
Cards.
- auction bridge.
- (in bridge or certain other games) the competitive bidding to fix a contract that a player or players undertake to fulfill.
verb (used with object)
to sell by auction (often followed by off): He auctioned off his furniture.
Origin of auction
1585–95; < Latin
auctiōn- (stem of
auctiō) an increase, especially in the bidding at a sale, equivalent to
auct(us) increased, past participle of
augēre (
aug- increase +
-tus past participle suffix) +
-iōn-
-ion
OTHER WORDS FROM auction
auc·tion·a·ble, adjective auc·tion·ar·y, adjective pro·auc·tion, adjective un·auc·tioned, adjectiveWords nearby auction
auburn,
aubusson,
auc,
auckland,
auckland islands,
auction,
auction block,
auction bridge,
auction pinochle,
auction pitch,
auctioneer
Example sentences from the Web for auction
British Dictionary definitions for auction
auction
/ (ˈɔːkʃən) /
noun
a public sale of goods or property, esp one in which prospective purchasers bid against each other until the highest price is reached
Compare Dutch auction
the competitive calls made in bridge and other games before play begins, undertaking to win a given number of tricks if a certain suit is trumps
See auction bridge
verb
(tr often foll by off)
to sell by auction
Word Origin for auction
C16: from Latin
auctiō an increasing, from
augēre to increase