bid Definition

bid¹
verb bid, bidding

tr & intr
1. To offer (an amount of money) when trying to buy something, especially at an auction.

Thesaurus: offer, ante, venture, proffer, tender, propose, request, solicit.
tr & intr
2. cards.
To state in advance (the number of tricks one will try to win).
intr
3. To state a price one will charge for work to be done.

Form: bid for something (especially)

noun

1. An offer of an amount of money in payment for something, especially at an auction.
2. cards.
A statement of how many tricks one proposes to win.
3. colloq
Especially in journalistic usage: an attempt to obtain or achieve something.
Example: a bid for freedom

Derivative: bidder
noun

Derivative: bidding

See separate entry.

Idiom: bid fair

formal
To seem likely.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon beodan meaning ‘to command' or ‘summon'.

Phrasal Verb: bid in

Said of the owner of an item for sale at an auction, or of their agent: to make a bid that is greater than the highest offer (and so retain the item). See also buy in.

Phrasal Verb: bid something up

To raise its market price by some artificial means, eg by bids that are not genuine.

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bid²
verb bade (past tense), bidden (past participle), bidding (present participle)

formal:
archaic or literary:
1. To express (a wish or greeting, etc).

Example: We bid you welcome
2. (with an imperative) to command someone (to do a specified thing).

Example: The king bade him kneel
Thesaurus: order, demand, command, charge, direct, instruct, require, proclaim.
3. To invite them to it, or to do it.

Example: was bidden to the ceremony
Example: bid her to start
Form: bid someone to something (often)
Form: bid someone to do something

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon biddan, meaning ‘to beg' or ‘to pray'.