sale

American  

[seyl] / seɪl /

noun

1. the act of selling. sell. selling.

2. a quantity sold. sell. sold.

3. opportunity to sell; demand.

   slow sale.

4. a special disposal of goods, as at reduced prices.

5. transfer of property for money or credit.

6. an auction.

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idioms

1. on sale, able to be bought at reduced prices.

2. for sale, offered to be sold; made available to purchasers.

sale ¹ British  

/ seɪl /

noun

1. the exchange of goods, property, or services for an agreed sum of money or credit

2. the amount sold

3. the opportunity to sell; market

   there was no sale for luxuries

4. the rate of selling or being sold

   a slow sale of synthetic fabrics

5. 1. an event at which goods are sold at reduced prices, usually to clear old stocks

   2. ( as modifier )

      sale bargains

6. an auction

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Sale ² British  

/ seɪl /

noun

1. a town in NW England, in Trafford unitary authority, Greater Manchester: a residential suburb of Manchester. Pop: 55 234 (2001)

2. a city in SE Australia, in SE Victoria: centre of an agricultural region. Pop: 12 854 (2001)

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Salé ³ British  

/ sale /

noun

1. a port in NW Morocco, on the Atlantic adjoining Rabat. Pop: 880 000 (2003)

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sale More Idioms  

1. see close the sale; on sale; white sale.

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Other Word Forms

• intersale noun
• nonsale noun
• subsale noun

Etymology

Origin of sale

First recorded before 1050; Middle English; late Old English sala; cognate with Old Norse, Old High German sala; sell ¹

Example Sentences

And they’ve reported strong sales to international destinations and in premium classes this year, even as domestic and main-cabin sales softened.

From The Wall Street Journal

A sale of Castrol, which BP said it was reviewing back in February, would be the company’s largest single divestiture so far.

From The Wall Street Journal

Find insight on U.S. home prices, retail sales and more in the latest Market Talks covering financial services.

From The Wall Street Journal

In July, Paramount managers were eager to tie up loose ends to facilitate the company’s sale to David Ellison’s Skydance Media and RedBird Capital Partners.

From Los Angeles Times

“Mr. Goldstein’s belief in the Company’s prospects remains strong, and the stock sales are intended solely for financial diversification purposes,” Sands said at October’s end, as the CEO began his divestitures.

From Barron's

Related Words

• auction
• business
• buying
• deal
• demand
• marketing
• purchase
• reduction
• selling
• trade
• transaction