Search results for 'sell':

sell verb (sold, selling) 1 to give something to someone in exchange for money • She sold it to her brother • Can I sell you a crate of Southern Comfort? 2 to have available for buying • Do you sell batteries? 3 intrans to be in demand among customers; to be sold • This particular style sells well. 4 to promote the sale of something; to cause to be bought • The author's name sells the book. 5 to convince or persuade someone to acquire or agree to something, especially by emphasizing its merits or advantages • It was difficult to sell them the idea. 6 colloq to deceive or trick. 7 to lose or betray (eg one's principles) in the process of getting something, especially something dishonourable. noun 1 the act or process of selling. 2 the style of persuasion used in selling • the hard sell. 3 colloq a trick or deception. sellable adj. seller noun. sell someone down the river colloq to betray them. sell someone, something or oneself short 1 colloq to understate their good qualities; to belittle them. 2 finance to sell (eg stocks, etc) before one actually owns them, so one can buy them at a lower price just before selling them. sold on something colloq convinced or enthusiastic about it.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon sellan to hand over, from Norse selja, from Gothic saljan.