auction
noun /ˈɔːkʃn/, /ˈɒkʃn/
/ˈɔːkʃn/
[countable, uncountable]- a public sale in which things are sold to the person who offers the most money for them
- an auction of paintings
- at auction A classic Rolls-Royce fetched (= was sold for) £25 000 at auction.
- up for auction The house is up for auction (= will be sold at an auction).
- an internet auction site
Extra ExamplesTopics Artb2, Moneyb2- I try to buy furniture at auctions because it is cheaper that way.
- In a reverse auction, the price is driven steadily down.
- The estate is holding an auction to raise money.
- The goods were put up for sale by auction.
- The horse will be put up for public auction.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- public
- charity
- Internet
- …
- hold
- conduct
- attend
- …
- take place
- house
- room
- item
- …
- at auction
- by auction
Word Originlate 16th cent.: from Latin auctio(n-) ‘increase, auction’, from the verb augere ‘to increase’.