| A | auction | n. | A forum for selling a set of objects each to the highest bidder. | ||
| auctionbot | n. | A software agent (typically running under UNIX) which accepts bids, usually via Internet e-mail, and sends out updates, usually via Internet e-mail. | |||
| auctioneer | n. | One who conducts an auction; one who sells items and solicits bids. | |||
| B | bid | n. | An offer from a particular bidder with an intent to buy a given item for a given price. | ||
| v. | To submit a bid. | ||||
| bidder | n. | An active participant in an auction; one who submits bids. | |||
| bidding war | n. | A situation in which two or more bidders are engaged in a staggering competition for a particular item or set of items. | |||
| blowout bid | n. | A pricepoint on a given item at which, if a bid is submitted, the item is immediately marked sold to the bidder submitting the blowout bid. | |||
| bump | v.t. | To oust another bidder from his or her position by overturning his or her bid. | |||
| D | drive-by auction | n. | An auction held by someone who is neither a regular contributor to the newsgroup nor a lurker. | ||
| G | going once | adj. | 1. First solicitation by the auctioneer for a higher bid. 2. An item with an immature bid. | ||
| going twice | adj. | 1. Second solicitation by the auctioneer for a higher bid. 2. An item with a mature bid. 3. Last call for higher bids on a given item. | |||
| H | high bid | n. | 1. The highest bid submitted for a given item. 2. A tentative association between an item and a bidder. | ||
| high bidder | n. | The bidder with the high bid on a given item. | |||
| I | item | n. | An object or set of objects for sale in an auction upon which bids are submitted. | ||
| L | lot | n. | Same as item. | ||
| M | mailing list | n. | A collection of bidder, organized by e-mail address, to which periodic updates are sent by the auctioneer or auctionbot. | ||
| minimum bid | n. | Same as opening bid. | |||
| minimum bid increment | n. | The minimum additional monetary amount required to register a newer, higher bid. In some auctions this is a fixed amount, in others it depends on the current high bid. | |||
| minimum raise | n. | Same as minimum bid increment. | |||
| O | observation list | n. | A bidder-specific list of items which appear in periodic or aperiodic updates sent by the auctioneer and which the bidder is presumably interested in obtaining. | ||
| once, twice, sold | n. | A type of auction in which bid ages are attached to items. See going once, going twice, and sold. | |||
| open | adj. | An item which has not yet received a bid. | |||
| v.t. | To submit an opening bid on an item. | ||||
| opening announcement | n. | A general announcement of an auction to the newsgroup, giving rules and/or listing items for sale. | |||
| opening bid | n. | The minimum price at which a given item will sell; the minimum acceptable bid. | |||
| overturn | v.t. | To raise a bid. See also bump. | |||
| P | pending | adj. | A high bid that is not yet sold; a bid that is standing, going once, or going twice. | ||
| Q | quick-sale price | n. | Same as blowout bid. | ||
| R | raise | v.t. | Same as overturn. | ||
| S | sold | adj. | Within the context of an auction, a permanent association between an item and a bidder. | ||
| splash page | n. | The first screenful of information people see when they read the newsgroup and encounter your opening announcement. | |||
| standing bid | n. | A bid which has been neither challenged nor solicited for higher bids; the new high bid. | |||
| state | n. | The maturity of a bid on an item, either open, standing, going once, going twice, or sold. | |||
| submit | v.t. | To cause a bid to be sent from a bidder to an auctioneer or auctionbot, usually via e-mail. | |||
| T | teaser | n. | A sneak preview of an auction posted to the newsgroup before the real announcement. | ||
| U | up | v.t. | Same as overturn. | ||
| update | n. | 1. An instantaneous snapshot of some or all of the items in an auction, listing for each item the high bid and the high bidder, usually in an easy-to-read tabular form. 2. An e-mail message or newsgroup posting containing the partial or entire status of the auction. | |||
| W | watch list | n. | Same as observation list. |