sell

verb (past and past participle sold /sōld/)

• 1give or hand over (something) in exchange for money:they had sold the car the family business had been sold off [with two objects]:I was trying to sell him my butterfly collection
• have a stock of (something) available for sale:the store sells hi-fis, TVs, videos, and other electrical goods
• [no object] (of a thing) be purchased:this magazine of yours won’t sell
• (of a publication or recording) attain sales of (a specified number of copies):the album sold 6 million copies in the U.S.
• [no object] (sell for/at) be available for sale at (a specified price):these antiques sell for about $375
• [no object] (sell out) sell all of one’s stock of something:they had nearly sold out of the initial run of 75,000 copies
• [no object] (sell out) be all sold:it was clear that the performances would not sell out
• [no object] (sell through) (of a product) be purchased by a customer from a retail outlet.
• [no object] (sell up) sell all of one’s property, possessions, or assets:Ernest sold up and retired
• (sell oneself) have sex in exchange for money:if she was going to sell herself then it would be as well not to come too cheap
• archaic offer (something) dishonorably for money or other reward; make a matter of corrupt bargaining:do not your lawyers sell all their practice, as your priests their prayers?
• (sell someone out) betray someone for one’s own financial or material benefit:the clansmen became tenants and the chiefs sold them out
• [no object] (sell out) abandon one’s principles for reasons of expedience:the prime minister has come under fire for selling out to the U.S.

• 2persuade someone of the merits of:he sold the idea of making a film about Tchaikovsky he could get work but he just won’t sell himself
• be the reason for (something) being bought:what sells CDs to most people is convenience
• cause (someone) to become enthusiastic about: (as adjective sold)I’m just not sold on the idea

• 3 archaic trick or deceive (someone):what we want is to go out of here quiet, and talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town

noun

• 1an act of selling or attempting to sell something:the excitement of scientific achievement is too subtle a sell to stir the public

• 2a disappointment, typically one arising from being deceived as to the merits of something:actually, Hawaii’s a bit of a sell