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Definition of auction noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

auction

noun
 
 
/ˈɔːkʃn/,
 
/ˈɒkʃn/
 
/ˈɔːkʃn/
[countable, uncountable]
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  1. 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
    see also silent auction
    Extra Examples
    • 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.
    Topics Artb2, Moneyb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • public
    • charity
    • Internet
    • …
    verb + auction
    • hold
    • conduct
    • attend
    • …
    auction + verb
    • take place
    auction + noun
    • house
    • room
    • item
    • …
    preposition
    • at auction
    • by auction
    See full entry
    Word Originlate 16th cent.: from Latin auctio(n-) ‘increase, auction’, from the verb augere ‘to increase’.
See auction in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: auction

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
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Oxford 5000
B2
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