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auction - 6 dictionary results
auc⋅tion
[awk-shuh
n] 
–noun
| 1. | Also called public sale. a publicly held sale at which property or goods are sold to the highest bidder. |
| 2. | Cards.
|
–verb (used with object)
| 3. | to sell by auction (often fol. by off): He auctioned off his furniture. |
Origin:
1585–95; < L auctiōn- (s. of auctiō) an increase, esp. in the bidding at a sale, equiv. to auct(us) increased, ptp. of augēre (aug- increase + -tus ptp. suffix) + -iōn- -ion
1585–95; < L auctiōn- (s. of auctiō) an increase, esp. in the bidding at a sale, equiv. to auct(us) increased, ptp. of augēre (aug- increase + -tus ptp. suffix) + -iōn- -ion
Related forms:
auc⋅tion⋅a⋅ble, adjective
auc⋅tion⋅ar⋅y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To auction
| auc·tion (ôk'shən) n.
To sell at or by an auction: auctioned off the remaining inventory. [Latin auctiō, auctiōn-, from auctus, past participle of augēre, to increase; see aug- in Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Auction
Auc"tion\, n. [L. auctio an increasing, a public sale, where the price was called out, and the article to be sold was adjudged to the last increaser of the price, or the highest bidder, fr. L. augere, auctum, to increase. See Augment.]1. A public sale of property to the highest bidder, esp. by a person licensed and authorized for the purpose; a vendue. 2. The things sold by auction or put up to auction. Ask you why Phryne the whole auction buys ? --Pope. Note: In the United States, the more prevalent expression has been "sales at auction," that is, by an increase of bids (Lat. auctione). This latter form is preferable. Dutch auction, the public offer of property at a price beyond its value, then gradually lowering the price, till some one accepts it as purchaser. --P. Cyc.Auction
Auc"tion\, v. t. To sell by auction.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : auction
Spanish:
subasta,
German:
die Auktion,
Japanese:
競売
auction (n.)
"a sale by increase of bids," 1595, from L. auctionem (nom. auctio) "an increasing sale," from aug-, stem of augere "to increase," from PIE base *aug- "to increase" (see augment). In northern England and Scotland, called a roup. The verb is attested from 1807. In the U.S., something is sold at auction; in England, by auction. Auctioneer (n.) is attested from 1708.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: auc·tion
Function: noun
: a public sale of property to the highest bidder —see also RESERVE
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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