What is an Adoptable Auction?
An Adoptable Auction it's like a normal auction, with an adoptable on the plate and the highest point/money offer wins. These are not 'first come, first serve' adoptables.
Is it the same thing as a Name-Your-Price Adoptable?
Both can cause a bidding war, but no, they're not the same thing. Auctions are more organized and have more terms to them that the NYP Adopts. NYP Adopts usually have a price range and not a starting bid, they don't have an autobuy, nor a minimum bid raise and end when the Adoptable Creator feels like it.
Terminology
Bid = Money/Point Offer
Starting Bid/Base Bid (SB) = The first and low