sell

[[t]sɛl[/t]]

v. sold, sell•ing, n.

1) cvb to transfer (goods or property) or render (services) in exchange for money

2) to deal in; keep or offer for sale:

to sell insurance[/ex]

3) to make a sale or offer for sale to

4) to persuade or induce to buy

5) to promote or effect the sale of:

Packaging sells many products[/ex]

6) to achieve sales of:

The record sold a million copies[/ex]

7) to cause to be accepted, esp. generally or widely:

to sell an idea to the public[/ex]

8) to cause or persuade to accept, approve of, or see the value of:

to sell the voters on a candidate; to sell oneself at a job interview[/ex]

9) to surrender or deliver improperly or dishonorably in return for profit or advantage:

to sell one's soul for power; to sell votes[/ex]

10) to betray

11) to force or exact a price for:

They sold their lives dearly[/ex]

12) inf to cheat or hoax

13) to make a sale of something; transfer goods or property in exchange for money

14) to offer something for sale

15) to be offered for sale at the price indicated (fol. by at or for)

16) to engage or be employed in selling something

17) to promote sales

18) to be in demand by buyers:

On a rainy day, umbrellas really sell[/ex]

19) to win acceptance, approval, or adoption:

an idea that will sell[/ex]

20) phv sell off, to rid oneself of by selling, esp. at reduced prices:

to sell off last year's designs[/ex]

21) phv sell out

a) phv to dispose of entirely by selling

b) phv to betray (an associate, principles, a cause, etc.)

c) phv to betray one's principles

22) an act or method of selling

23) inf Informal. a cheat; hoax

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Etymology: bef. 900; ME (v.), OE sellan orig., to give, hence, give up (someone) to an enemy, betray, exchange for money, c. OFrissella, OSsellian, OHGsellen, ON selja to hand over, deliver, Go saljan to sacrifice sell′a•ble, adj.