bid1

 
Pronunciation: /bɪd/

verb (bids, bidding; past and past participle bid)

  • 1 [with object] offer (a certain price) for something, especially at an auction: a consortium of dealers bid a world record price for a snuff box [no object]: guests will bid for pieces of fine jewellery
  • [no object] (bid for) (of a contractor) offer to do (work) for a stated price; tender for: nineteen companies have indicated their intention to bid for the contract
  • Bridge make a statement during the auction undertaking to make (a certain number of tricks with a stated suit as trumps) if the bid is successful and one becomes the declarer: North bids four hearts
  • 2 [no object] make an effort or attempt to achieve: [with infinitive]: she’s now bidding to become a top female model the two forwards are bidding for places in the England side

noun

  • 1an offer of a price, especially at an auction: at the fur tables, several buyers make bids for the pelts
  • an offer to buy the shares of a company in order to gain control of it: a takeover bid
  • an offer to do work or supply goods at a stated price; a tender: a number of businessmen were keen to make a bid for the £75 million contract
  • Bridge an undertaking by a player in the auction to make a stated number of tricks with a stated suit as trumps: a bid of three spades
  • 2an attempt or effort to achieve something: he made a bid for power in 1984 [with infinitive]: an investigation would be carried out in a bid to establish what had happened

Derivatives

bidder

noun

Origin:

Old English bēodan 'to offer, command', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bieden and German bieten