auction
pronunciation
How to pronounce auction in British English:
UK [ˈɔːkʃn]
How to pronounce auction in American English:
US [ˈɔːkʃn]
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- Noun:
- a variety of bridge in which tricks made in excess of the contract are scored toward game; now generally superseded by contract bridge
- the public sale of something to the highest bidder
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- Verb:
- sell at an auction
Word Origin
- auction
- auction: [16] The etymological idea underlying auction is that of ‘increasing’ – as the sale proceeds, the price offered goes up. The word comes from Latin auctiō ‘increase’, a noun derived from auct-, the past participial stem of the verb augēre ‘increase’ (source of English augment [15] and author, and related to auxiliary [17] and eke). The sense ‘auction sale’ was already present in Latin.=> augment, august, author, auxilliary, eke, wax
- auction (n.)
- "a sale by increase of bids," 1590s, from Latin auctionem (nominative auctio) "an increasing sale, auction, public sale," noun of action from past participle stem of augere "to increase," from PIE root *aug- (1) "to increase" (see augment). In northern England and Scotland, called a roup. In the U.S., something is sold at auction; in England, by auction.
- auction (v.)
- 1807, from auction (n.). Related: Auctioned; auctioning.
Example
- 1. This is reportedly the first time yields turned negative at a german debt auction .
- 2. Toviefor , an auction site for luxury fashion , has already " achieved significant industry buy-in . " "
- 3. Hopping says that wharton created the internship auction program in response to student demand .
- 4. What art auction trends are you watching ?
- 5. Only tnk-related companies were allowed to participate in the closed auction .