Definition

1. Noun:

   • A public sale in which goods or property are sold to the highest bidder: An auction is a method of selling where items are offered for sale, and buyers compete by offering increasing amounts of money. The item is sold to the person who makes the highest bid.
   • (In card games, specifically bridge) A variety of bridge: This is a historical or specialized usage referring to a version of the card game bridge where the bidding process is central. This form is now largely replaced by contract bridge.

2. Verb:

   • To sell something at an auction: The act of offering an item for sale through the auction process.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The rare painting was sold at a famous auction house for a record price.
  • They decided to sell their grandmother's estate by auction.
  • (Card game context) He preferred the strategy of auction to other bridge variants.

• Verb:

  • The bank will auction the repossessed cars next week.
  • We need to auction these old items to clear out the storage room.

Advanced Usage

• "To go to auction": To be sold at an auction.
  • The historic manuscript will go to auction next month.
• "To put something up for auction": To offer something for sale at an auction.
  • The family put the vintage jewelry up for auction.
• "Auction off": To sell by auction, often implying a complete or rapid sale.
  • The company auctioned off its remaining assets.

Variants and Related Words

• Auctioneer (n): The person who conducts an auction by accepting bids and declaring the item sold.
  • The auctioneer moved quickly through the items.
• Auctionable (adj): Suitable or able to be sold at an auction.
  • The authenticity certificate made the artifact auctionable.

Synonyms

• Sale (n): A general term for the exchange of goods for money.
• Bidding (n): The act of offering a price, especially in an auction.
• Vendue (n): An archaic term for a public auction.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Auction off: To sell something at an auction. (This is the primary and most common phrasal verb form of the verb "auction").
  • They decided to auction off the entire collection.

Related Idioms

• "Sold to the highest bidder": A phrase commonly declared by an auctioneer to finalize a sale, meaning the item goes to the person who offered the most money. It can also be used metaphorically.
  • After a fierce bidding war, the statue was sold to the highest bidder.
  • (Metaphorical) In politics, some fear policies are sold to the highest bidder.

Noun

1. the public sale of something to the highest bidder
2. a variety of bridge in which tricks made in excess of the contract are scored toward game; now generally superseded by contract bridge

Verb

1. sell at an auction