1auc·tion 
/ˈɑ:kʃən/ noun
plural auc·tions /ˈɑ:kʃən/ noun : a public sale at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most [count] ▪ She bought the desk at an auction. ▪ He made several bids at the auction. [noncount] ▪ The house is being sold at auction. = The house is up for auction. ▪ She works as an auctioneer at an auction house. [=a business that runs auctions]
on the auction block — see 1block
