Main Entry: ¹sell

Pronunciation: \ˈsel\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): sold \ˈsōld\; sell·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sellan; akin to Old High German sellen to sell, Greek helein to take

Date: before 12th century

transitive verb 1 : to deliver or give up in violation of duty, trust, or loyalty and especially for personal gain : betray —often used with out <sell out their country>
2 a (1) : to give up (property) to another for something of value (as money) (2) : to offer for sale b : to give up in return for something else especially foolishly or dishonorably <sold his birthright for a mess of pottage> c : to exact a price for <sold their lives dearly>
3 a : to deliver into slavery for money b : to give into the power of another <sold his soul to the devil> c : to deliver the personal services of for money
4 : to dispose of or manage for profit instead of in accordance with conscience, justice, or duty <sold their votes>
5 a : to develop a belief in the truth, value, or desirability of : gain acceptance for <trying to sell a program to the Congress> b : to persuade or influence to a course of action or to the acceptance of something <sell children on reading>
6 : to impose on : cheat
7 a : to cause or promote the sale of <using television advertising to sell cereal> b : to make or attempt to make sales to c : to influence or induce to make a purchase
8 : to achieve a sale of <sold a million copies>intransitive verb 1 : to dispose of something by sale <thinks now is a good time to sell>
2 : to achieve a sale; also : to achieve satisfactory sales <hoped that the new line would sell>
3 : to have a specified price

— sell·able \ˈse-lə-bəl\ adjective

— sell down the river : to betray the faith of

— sell short 1 : to make a short sale
2 : to fail to value properly : underestimate