sell

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   be sold at a certain price or in a certain way

   These books sell like hot cakes

2. 2
   noun

   the activity of persuading someone to buy

   it was a hard sell

3. 3
   verb

   persuade somebody to accept something

   The French try to sell us their image as great lovers

4. 4
   verb

   To transfer goods or provide services in exchange for money.

   She sold her old car very quickly.

5. 5
   verb

   To be sold.

   This old stock will never sell.

6. 6
   verb

   To promote (a product or service) although not being paid in any direct way or at all.

   Howard: You're gonna feel terrible when I'm in a wheelchair. Which, by the way, would fit easily in the back of this award-winning minivan. Bernadette: Fine, we'll go to the E.R. Just stop selling me on the van. Howard: You're right. It sells itself.

7. 7
   verb

   To promote (a particular viewpoint).

   My boss is very old-fashioned and I'm having a lot of trouble selling the idea of working at home occasionally.

8. 8
   verb

   To trick, cheat, or manipulate someone.

   Then weaues Other crosse-plots New tricks for safety, are sought; They thriue: When, bold, Each tempt's th'other againe, and all are sold.

Etymology

From Middle English sellen, from Old English sellan (“give; give up for money”), from Proto-West Germanic *salljan, from Proto-Germanic *saljaną, from Proto-Indo-European *selh₁-. Cognates Cognate with Scots sell (“to sell”), Danish sælge (“to sell”), Faroese, Icelandic selja (“to sell”), Norwegian Bokmål selge (“to sell”), Norwegian Nynorsk selja, selje (“to sell”), Swedish sälja (“to sell”), Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (saljan, “to pay tribute, make an offer”).