sell-v; 6 Senses

Sense Number 1: trade, deal, or execute a commercial transaction

Commentary: NP SELL[+punctual] NP[+count] NP[+count] SELL[+punctual] ADV/PP NP[+agent] SELL[+continuative] NP[+plural/+mass]

Examples:
He sold the house in January.
Harry Potter books have been selling like hotcakes.
Movies usually help to sell the video games that are based on them.
His uncle sells produce.
She didn't want to sell shoes the rest of her life.
They are selling oil illegally.

Mappings:
VerbNet: give-13.1-1
FrameNet: Commerce_sell
PropBank: sell.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 2, 4, 7

Sense Number 2: persuade or achieve acceptance

Commentary: Implies causing a belief or attitude, not a monetary transaction

Examples:
The idea of gun control doesn't sell well in rural areas.
She has sold them on the idea of redecorating their home.
She has sold the idea of redecorating to them.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3, 6

Sense Number 3: relinquish,surrender (usually pejorative)

Commentary: NP{+agent] SELL NP Includes: SELL OUT

Examples:
She sold her principles for a successful career.
Judas sold Jesus.
You sold her out to the wolves.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: sell.02
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5, 8
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
sell_out 2

Sense Number 4: underestimate the real value or ability of

Commentary: Includes: SELL SHORT

Examples:
Don't sell yourself short in college admission essays.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
sell_short 2

Sense Number 5: get rid of one's goods or possessions

Commentary: Includes: SELL OUT, SELL UP, SELL OFF

Examples:
They sold off their property before they moved.
At what price do we sell out out souls?
I was fed up with this city, so I sold up all my personal property and moved.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: sell.03,sell.04
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
sell_out 1
sell_off 1
sell_up 1

Sense Number 6: selling of securities or commodities at advantageous terms

Commentary: SELL SHORT: Method of profiting from a declining stock price by borrowing shares of the stock, selling them at the market price, and then repurchasing the same number of shares at a future date (and at a lower price, if you're lucky) to return them to the original lender.

Examples:
Investors who sell short believe the price of the stock will fall.
So you have sold short 100 shares at $90 each.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
sell_short 1