bid

¹

[ bid ]

verb (used with object)

biddingbidden or bid or bid bade or (Archaic) bad or bid

1. to command; order; direct:

   to bid them depart.

   Synonyms: enjoin, require, charge

2. to express (a greeting, farewell, benediction, or wish):

   to bid good night.

3. Commerce. to offer (a certain sum) as the price one will pay or charge:

   They bid $25,000 and got the contract.

   Synonyms: proffer, tender, offer

4. Cards. to enter a bid of (a given quantity or suit):

   to bid two no-trump.

5. to summon by invitation; invite.

verb (used without object)

biddingbade or (Archaic) bad or bid bidden or bid or bid

1. to command; order; direct:

   I will do as you bid.

2. to make a bid:

   She bid at the auction for the old chair.

noun

1. an act or instance of bidding.

   Synonyms: proffer, proposal, offer

2. Cards.
   1. an offer to make a specified number of points or to take a specified number of tricks.
   2. the amount of such an offer.
   3. the turn of a person to bid.
3. an invitation:

   a bid to join the club.

4. an attempt to attain some goal or purpose:

   a bid for election.

5. Also called bid price. Stock Exchange. the highest price a prospective buyer is willing to pay for a security at a given moment.

verb phrase

1. Commerce. to increase the market price of by increasing bids.
2. Commerce. to overbid all offers for (property) at an auction in order to retain ownership.

bid

²

[ bid ]

verb

Archaic.

1. past participle of bide.

b.i.d.

³

abbreviation for

1. (in prescriptions) twice a day.

B.I.D.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. Bachelor of Industrial Design.

b.i.d.

¹

abbreviation for

1. bis in die

bid

²

/ bɪd /

verb

1. often foll byfor or against to offer (an amount) in attempting to buy something, esp in competition with others as at an auction
2. commerce to respond to an offer by a seller by stating (the more favourable terms) on which one is willing to make a purchase
3. tr to say (a greeting, blessing, etc)

   to bid farewell

4. to order; command

   do as you are bid!

5. intrusually foll byfor to attempt to attain power, etc
6. tr to invite; ask kindly

   she bade him sit down

7. bridge to declare in the auction before play how many tricks one expects to make
8. bid defiance
   to resist boldly
9. bid fair
   to seem probable

noun

1. 1. an offer of a specified amount, as at an auction
   2. the price offered
2. commerce
   1. a statement by a buyer, in response to an offer by a seller, of the more favourable terms that would be acceptable
   2. the price or other terms so stated
3. an attempt, esp an attempt to attain power
4. bridge
   1. the number of tricks a player undertakes to make
   2. a player's turn to make a bid
5. short for bid price

Derived Forms

• ˈbidder, noun

Other Word Forms

• bid·der noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bid¹

before 900; Middle English bidden, Old English biddan to beg, ask; cognate with Old Frisian bidda, Old Saxon biddian, Old High German bittan ( German bitten ), Old Norse bithja, Gothic bidjan; all < Germanic *bid-ja- (< Indo-European *bhidh- ) command, akin to Greek peíthein to persuade, inspire with trust, English bide

Origin of bid²

From Latin bis in diē

Word History and Origins

Origin of bid¹

Latin: twice a day

Origin of bid²

Old English biddan ; related to German bitten

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bid fair. fair ¹( def 29 ).

Example Sentences

The UK government has brought in a temporary ban on holidaymakers bringing in cheese and meat products from the EU in a bid to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

From BBC

Other countries including Germany have imposed border controls in a bid to limit irregular migration.

From BBC

To fight against proceedings, the pair set up a campaign, called UoB2, in January in a bid to attract publicity for their position.

From BBC

The England striker, who was the subject of a failed bid from Arsenal in January, has a decent return in the Premier League this season with 14 goals.

From BBC

The union said its workers were striking in order to prevent pay cuts, not in a bid to get more money than they currently receive.

From BBC

Related Words

• advance
• offer
• price
• proposal
• request
• suggestion