offer: Meaning and Definition of

of•fer

Pronunciation: (ô'fur, of'ur), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to present for acceptance or rejection; proffer: He offered me a cigarette.
  2. to propose or put forward for consideration: to offer a suggestion.
  3. to propose or volunteer (to do something): She offered to accompany me.
  4. to make a show of intention (to do something): We did not offer to go first.
  5. to give, make, or promise: She offered no response.
  6. to present solemnly as an act of worship or devotion, as to God, a deity or a saint; sacrifice.
  7. to present for sale: He offered the painting to me at a reduced price.
  8. to tender or bid as a price: to offer ten dollars for a radio.
  9. to attempt or threaten to do, engage in, or inflict: to offer battle.
  10. to put forth; exert: to offer resistance.
  11. to present to sight or notice.
  12. to introduce or present for exhibition or performance.
  13. to render (homage, thanks, etc.).
  14. to present or volunteer (oneself&hasp;) to someone as a spouse.
—v.i.
  1. to present itself; occur: Whenever an opportunity offered, he slipped off to town.
  2. to present something as an act of worship or devotion; sacrifice.
  3. to make a proposal or suggestion.
  4. to suggest oneself to someone for marriage; propose.
  5. to make an attempt (fol. by at).
—n.
  1. an act or instance of offering: an offer of help.
  2. the condition of being offered: an offer for sale.
  3. something offered.
  4. a proposal or bid to give or pay something as the price of something else; bid: an offer of $90,000 for the house.
  5. a proposal that requires only acceptance in order to create a contract.
  6. an attempt or endeavor.
  7. a show of intention.
  8. a proposal of marriage.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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