Meaning of auction In English

• 0 a usually public sale of goods or property, where people make higher and higher bids (= offers of money) for each thing, until the thing is sold to the person who will pay most:

  • a furniture auction

  • They're holding an auction of jewellery on Thursday.

  • The painting will be sold at auction next week.

  • The house and its contents are being put up for auction.

• 1 to sell something in a public auction:

  • The stamps will be auctioned tomorrow.

  • The family is auctioning (off) its art collection.

• 2 a usually public sale of goods or property, where people make higher and higher bids (= offers of money) for each item, until there are no higher bids and it is sold for the most money offered:

  • [ C ] an auction of early American furniture

  • [ U ] bulls sold at auction

• 3 a public sale in which goods or property are sold to the person who offers the most money:

  • sell sth at auction The painting was sold at auction for €12 million.

  • hold an auction We held a charity auction in aid of the local hospital.

  • be up/come up/go up/be put up for auction One of the prints recently came up for auction in the United States.

  • an internet/online/public auction You can bid for it in an online auction.

• 4 to sell something in a public auction:

  • The stamps will be auctioned tomorrow.

  • The family is auctioning off its art collection.