sell

Sell is defined as to exchange something for money, act as a sales clerk or offer for sale.

(verb)

  1. An example of to sell is someone giving you fifty dollars for your bike.
  2. An example of to sell is being the cashier at a coffee shop and taking money for drinks made.
  3. An example of to sell is a bakery having muffins for sale.

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See sell in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb sold, selling

  1. to give up, deliver, or exchange (property, goods, services, etc.) for money or its equivalent
    1. to have or offer regularly for sale; deal in: a store that sells hardware, to sell real estate
    2. to make or try to make sales in or to: to sell chain stores
    1. to give up or deliver (a person) to his or her enemies or into slavery, bondage, etc.
    2. to be a traitor to; betray (a country, cause, etc.)
  2. to give up or dispose of (one's honor, one's vote, etc.) for profit or a dishonorable purpose
  3. to bring about, help in, or promote, the sale of: television sells many products
  4. Informal
    1. to establish faith, confidence, or belief in: to sell oneself to the public
    2. to persuade (someone) of the value of something; convince: with on: sell him on the idea
  5. Slang to cheat or dupe

Origin: ME sellen < OE sellan, to give, offer, akin to Goth saljan, to offer (sacrifice): caus. formation in sense “to cause to take” < IE base *sel-, to take, grasp > sale, Gr helein, to take

intransitive verb

  1. to exchange property, goods, or services for money, etc.
  2. to work or act as a salesman or salesclerk
  3. to be sold; attract buyers: often used with reference to the rate of sale: to sell well, poorly, etc.
  4. to be sold (for or at): belts selling for six dollars
  5. Informal to be accepted, approved, etc.: a scheme that won't sell

noun

  1. Slang a trick or hoax
  2. ☆ selling or salesmanship

See sell in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb sold sold (sōld), sell·ing, sells
verb, transitive
  1. To exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent.
  2. To offer for sale, as for one's business or livelihood: The partners sell textiles.
  3. To give up or surrender in exchange for a price or reward: sell one's soul to the devil.
  4. To be purchased in (a certain quantity); achieve sales of: a book that sold a million copies.
  5. a. To bring about or encourage sales of; promote: Good publicity sold the product.
    b. To cause to be accepted; advocate successfully: We sold the proposal to the school committee.
  6. To persuade (another) to recognize the worth or desirability of something: They sold me on the idea.
verb, intransitive
  1. To exchange ownership for money or its equivalent; engage in selling.
  2. To be sold or be on sale: Grapes are selling high this season.
  3. To attract prospective buyers; be popular on the market: an item that sells well.
  4. To be approved of; gain acceptance.
noun
  1. The activity or method of selling.
  2. Something that sells or gains acceptance in a particular way: Their program to raise taxes will be a difficult sell.
  3. Slang A deception; a hoax.
Phrasal Verbs: sell off To get rid of by selling, often at reduced prices. sell out To put all of one's goods or possessions up for sale. Slang To betray one's cause or colleagues: He sold out to the other side.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English sellen

Origin: , from Old English sellan, to give, sell

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Related Forms:

  • sellˈa·ble adjective

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