Auction

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: auc=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

Auction, n. [L. auctio an increasing, a public sale, where the price was called out, and the article to be sold was adjudged to the last increaser of the price, or the highest bidder, fr. L. augere, auctum, to increase. See Augment.].

•  A public sale of property to the highest bidder, esp. by a person licensed and authorized for the purpose; a vendue.  [1913 Webster]
•  The things sold by auction or put up to auction.  [1913 Webster]

  " In the United States, the more prevalent expression has been “sales at auction,” that is, by an increase of bids (Lat. auctione). This latter form is preferable."  [1913 Webster]

  "Ask you why Phryne the whole auction buys ?"  [1913 Webster]

Dutch auction, the public offer of property at a price beyond its value, then gradually lowering the price, till some one accepts it as purchaser. P. Cyc.

Auction, v. t. 

 To sell by auction.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Auction, n. & v.
--n. a sale of goods, usu. in public, in which articles are sold to the highest bidder.
--v.tr. sell by auction.

Idiom

auction bridge
1 a form of bridge in which players bid for the right to name trumps.
2 the sequence of bids made at bridge. Dutch auction a sale, usu. public, of goods in which the price is reduced by the auctioneer until a buyer is found.

Etymology

L auctio increase, auction f. augere auct- increase

ROGET THESAURUS

Auction

Sale

N sale, vent, disposal, auction, roup, Dutch auction, outcry, vendue, custom, vendibility, vendibleness, seller, vender, vendor, merchant, auctioneer, under the hammer, on the market, for sale, salable, marketable, vendible, unsalable unpurchased, unbought, on one's hands, chose qui plait est a demi vendue.

Mart

N mart, market, marketplace, fair, bazaar, staple, exchange, change, bourse, hall, guildhall, tollbooth, customhouse, Tattersall's, stall, booth, stand, newsstand, cart, wagon, wharf, office, chambers, countinghouse, bureau, counter, compter, shop, emporium, establishment, store, department store, general store, five and ten, variety store, co-op, finding store, grindery warehouse, grocery, supermarket, candy store, sweet shop, confectionery, bakery, greengrocer, delicatessen, bakeshop, butcher shop, fish store, farmers' market, mom and pop store, dairy, health food store, tobacco shop, tobacco store, tobacconists, cigar store, hardware store, jewelry shop, bookstore, liquor store, gun shop, rod and reel shop, furniture store, drugstore, chemist's, florist, flower shop, shoe store, stationer, stationer's, electronics shop, telephone store, music store, record shop, fur store, sporting goods store, video store, video rental store, lumber store, lumber yard, home improvements store, home improvement center, gas station, auto repair shop, auto dealer, used car dealer, mall, suburban mall, commons, pedestrian mall, shopping street, surplus store, army-navy surplus store, auction, flea market, yard sale, garage sale, pawn shop, antiques store, second-hand store, second time around shop, thrift shop, warehouse, wareroom, depot, interposit, entrepot, market-overt, real-estate broker, vending machine.