U C 拍卖 a public meeting at which goods are sold to the person who offers the most money

　hold ～　举行拍卖
　public ～　公开拍卖
　furniture ～　家具拍卖
　at ～　在拍卖
　by ～　拍卖
　for ～　交付拍卖

　We bought these items at an auction.　这些物件是我们在一次拍卖时买的。
　The house will be sold by auction.　这栋房子将要拍卖。
　They've put the contents of their house up for auction.　他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。

　vt. & vi.拍卖 sell by auction

　He auctioned all his old furniture.　他把所有的旧家具都拍卖掉了。

 ♣ auction off　(v.+adv.)
　把（财产）拍卖掉　get rid of goods by selling at an auction
　He auctioned off his furniture.　他把家具拍卖了。
　It was sad to see all grandmother's lovely things being auctioned off.　眼看着祖母那些可爱的东西全都被拍卖掉，心里真不好受。