Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Bid \Bid\ (b[i^]d), v. t. [imp. {Bade} (b[a^]d), {Bid}, (Obs.)
   {Bad}; p. p. {Bidden}, {Bid}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bidding}.]
   [OE. bidden, prop to ask, beg, AS. biddan; akin to OS.
   biddian, Icel. bi[eth]ja, OHG. bittan, G. bitten, to pray,
   ask, request, and E. bead, also perh. to Gr. teiqein to
   persuade, L. fidere to trust, E. faith, and bide. But this
   word was early confused with OE. beden, beoden, AS.
   be['o]dan, to offer, command; akin to Icel. bj[=o][eth]a,
   Goth. biudan (in comp.), OHG. biotan to command, bid, G.
   bieten, D. bieden, to offer, also to Gr. pynqa`nesqai to
   learn by inquiry, Skr. budh to be awake, to heed, present
   OSlav. bud[=e]ti to be awake, E. bode, v. The word now has
   the form of OE. bidden to ask, but the meaning of OE. beden
   to command, except in ``to bid beads.'' [root]30.]
   1. To make an offer of; to propose. Specifically : To offer
      to pay ( a certain price, as for a thing put up at
      auction), or to take (a certain price, as for work to be
      done under a contract).

   2. To offer in words; to declare, as a wish, a greeting, a
      threat, or defiance, etc.; as, to bid one welcome; to bid
      good morning, farewell, etc.

            Neither bid him God speed.            --2. John 10.

            He bids defiance to the gaping crowd. --Granrille.

   3. To proclaim; to declare publicly; to make known. [Mostly
      obs.] ``Our banns thrice bid !'' --Gay.

   4. To order; to direct; to enjoin; to command.

            That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. --Pope

            Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee. --Matt.
                                                  xiv. 28

            I was bid to pick up shells.          --D. Jerrold.

   5. To invite; to call in; to request to come.

            As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
                                                  --Matt. xxii.
                                                  9

   {To bid beads}, to pray with beads, as the Roman Catholics;
      to distinguish each bead by a prayer. [Obs.]

   {To bid defiance to}, to defy openly; to brave.

   {To bid fair}, to offer a good prospect; to make fair
      promise; to seem likely.

   Syn: To offer; proffer; tender; propose; order; command;
        direct; charge; enjoin.

Bidding \Bid"ding\, n.
   1. Command; order; a proclamation or notifying. ``Do thou thy
      master's bidding.'' --Shak.

   2. The act or process of making bids; an offer; a proposal of
      a price, as at an auction.

Source : WordNet®

bid
     n 1: an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
          [syn: {command}, {bidding}, {dictation}]
     2: an attempt to get something; "they made a futile play for
        power"; "he made a bid to gain attention" [syn: {play}]
     3: a formal proposal to buy at a specified price [syn: {tender}]
     4: (bridge) the number of tricks a bridge player is willing to
        contract to make [syn: {bidding}]
     [also: {bidding}, {bidden}, {bade}]

bidding
     n 1: an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
          [syn: {command}, {bid}, {dictation}]
     2: a request to be present; "they came at his bidding" [syn: {summons}]
     3: (bridge) the number of tricks a bridge player is willing to
        contract to make [syn: {bid}]

bid
     v 1: propose a payment; "The Swiss dealer offered $2 million for
          the painting" [syn: {offer}, {tender}]
     2: invoke upon; "wish you a nice evening"; "bid farewell" [syn:
         {wish}]
     3: ask for or request earnestly; "The prophet bid all people to
        become good persons" [syn: {beseech}, {entreat}, {adjure},
         {press}, {conjure}]
     4: make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands;
        "He called his trump" [syn: {call}]
     5: make a serious effort to attain something; "His campaign bid
        for the attention of the poor population"
     6: ask someone in a friendly way to do something [syn: {invite}]
     [also: {bidding}, {bidden}, {bade}]

bidding
     See {bid}