sale

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a particular instance of selling

   I has just made my first sale.

2. 2
   noun

   the general activity of selling

   they tried to boost sales

3. 3
   noun

   an occasion (usually brief) for buying at specially reduced prices

   they held a sale to reduce their inventory

4. 4
   noun

   an agreement or contract in which property is transferred from the seller to the buyer for a fixed price in money

   The salesman faxed the sales agreement.

5. 5
   noun

   An exchange of goods or services for currency or credit.

   He celebrated after the sale of company.

6. 6
   noun

   Ellipsis of discount sale (“the sale of goods at reduced prices”).

   They are having a clearance sale: 50% off.

7. 7
   noun

   the state of being purchasable

8. 8
   noun

   The act of putting up for auction to the highest bidder.

Etymology

From Middle English sale, sal, from Old English sæl (“room, hall, castle”), from Proto-Germanic *salą (“house, hall”), from Proto-Indo-European *sel- (“home, dwelling, village”). Cognate with West Frisian seal, Dutch zaal, German Saal, Swedish sal, Icelandic salur, Lithuanian sala (“village”). Doublet of sala and salle. Related also to salon, saloon.