bid Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
    command; dictation; bidding.
  2. noun an attempt to get something
    play.
    • they made a futile play for power
    • he made a bid to gain attention
  3. noun a formal proposal to buy at a specified price
    tender.
  4. noun (bridge) the number of tricks a bridge player is willing to contract to make
    bidding.
  5. verb propose a payment
    tender; offer.
    • The Swiss dealer offered $2 million for the painting
  6. verb invoke upon
    wish.
    • wish you a nice evening
    • bid farewell
  7. verb ask for or request earnestly
    beseech; entreat; press; adjure; conjure.
    • The prophet bid all people to become good persons
  8. verb make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands
    call.
    • He called his trump
  9. verb make a serious effort to attain something
    • His campaign bid for the attention of the poor population
  10. verb ask someone in a friendly way to do something
    invite.

WordNet

Bid transitive verb
Etymology
OE. bidden, prop to ask, beg, AS. biddan; akin to OS. biddian, Icel. bija, OHG. bittan, G. bitten, to pray, ask, request, and E. bead, also perh. to Gr. to persuade, L. fidere to trust, E. faith, and bide. But this word was early confused with OE. beden, beoden, AS. beódan, to offer, command; akin to Icel. bja, Goth. biudan (in comp.), OHG. biotan to command, bid, G. bieten, D. bieden, to offer, also to Gr. to learn by inquiry, Skr. budh to be awake, to heed, present OSlav. budti to be awake, E. bode, v. The word now has the form of OE. bidden to ask, but the meaning of OE. beden to command, except in "to bid beads."
Wordforms
imperfect Bade Bid, (obsolete ) Bad; past participle Bidden Bid; present participle & verbal noun Bidding
Definitions
  1. To make an offer of; to propose. Specifically : To offer to pay ( a certain price, as for a thing put up at auction), or to take (a certain price, as for work to be done under a contract).
  2. To offer in words; to declare, as a wish, a greeting, a threat, or defiance, etc.; as, to bid one welcome; to bid good morning, farewell, etc.
    Neither bid him God speed. 2. John 10.
    He bids defiance to the gaping crowd. Granrille.
  3. To proclaim; to declare publicly; to make known. Mostly obs. "Our banns thrice bid !" Gay.
  4. To order; to direct; to enjoin; to command.
    That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. Pope
    Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee. Matt. xiv. 28
    I was bid to pick up shells. D. Jerrold.
  5. To invite; to call in; to request to come.
    As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Matt. xxii. 9
    Syn. -- To offer; proffer; tender; propose; order; command; direct; charge; enjoin.
Bid
Definitions
  1. imp. & p. p. of Bid.
Bid noun
Definitions
  1. An offer of a price, especially at auctions; a statement of a sum which one will give for something to be received, or will take for something to be done or furnished; that which is offered.
Bid intransitive verb
Etymology
See Bid, v. t.
Definitions
  1. To pray. Obs. Chaucer.
  2. To make a bid; to state what one will pay or take.

Webster 1913