sell / sel/ • v. (past and past part. sold / sōld/ ) [tr.] 1. give or hand over (something) in exchange for money: they had sold the car the family business had been sold off | I was trying to sell him my butterfly collection. ∎  have a stock of (something) available for sale: the store sells hi-fis, TVs, videos, and other electrical goods. ∎  [intr.] (of a thing) be purchased: this magazine of yours won't sell. ∎  (of a publication or recording) attain sales of (a specified number of copies): the album sold 6 million copies in the U.S. ∎  [intr.] (sell for/at) be available for sale at (a specified price): these antiques sell for about $375. ∎  [intr.] (sell out) sell all of one's stock of something: they had nearly sold out of the initial run of 75,000 copies. ∎  [intr.] (sell out) be all sold: it was clear that the performances would not sell out. ∎  [intr.] (sell through) (of a product) be purchased by a customer from a retail outlet. ∎  [intr.] (sell up) sell all of one's property, possessions, or assets: Ernest sold up and retired. ∎  (sell oneself) have sex in exchange for money: if she was going to sell herself then it would be as well not to come too cheap. ∎ archaic offer (something) dishonorably for money or other reward; make a matter of corrupt bargaining: do not your lawyers sell all their practice, as your priests their prayers? ∎  (sell someone out) betray someone for one's own financial or material benefit: the clansmen became tenants and the chiefs sold them out. ∎  [intr.] (sell out) abandon one's principles for reasons of expedience: the prime minister has come under fire for selling out to the U.S.2. persuade someone of the merits of: he sold the idea of making a film about Tchaikovsky he could get work but he just won't sell himself. ∎  be the reason for (something) being bought: what sells CDs to most people is convenience. ∎  cause (someone) to become enthusiastic about: [as adj.] (sold) I'm just not sold on the idea. 3. archaic trick or deceive (someone): what we want is to go out of here quiet, and talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town.• n. inf. 1. an act of selling or attempting to sell something: the excitement of scientific achievement is too subtle a sell to stir the public.2. a disappointment, typically one arising from being deceived as to the merits of something: actually, Hawaii's a bit of a sell.PHRASES: sell someone a bill of goodssee bill of goods.sell someone down the riversee river.sell someone a (or the) dummysee dummy.sell someone a pupsee pup.sell someone/something short fail to recognize or state the true value of: don't sell yourself short—you've got what it takes.sell one's soul (to the devil) do or be willing to do anything, no matter how wrong it is, in order to achieve one's objective: universities are selling their souls for commercial success.DERIVATIVES: sell·a·ble adj.