/ seɪl; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U , C ] an act or the process of selling sth :
regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages
I haven't made a sale all week.
She gets 10% commission on each sale.
2.
sales [ pl. ] the number of items sold :
Retail sales fell in November by 10%.
Export sales were up by 32% last year.
the sales figures for May
a sales drive / campaign (= a special effort to sell more)
3.
sales [ U ] (also ˈsales department [ C ]) the part of a company that deals with selling its products :
a sales and marketing director
She works in sales / in the sales department.
The Weldon Group has a 6 000 strong sales force .
4.
[ C ] an occasion when a shop / store sells its goods at a lower price than usual :
The sale starts next week.
the January sales
I bought a coat in the sales .
sale prices
5.
[ C ] an occasion when goods are sold, especially an auction :
a contemporary art sale
—see also car boot sale , garage sale , jumble sale
•
IDIOMS
- for sale
- on sale
- (on) sale or return
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Old English sala , from Old Norse sala , of Germanic origin; related to sell .