1. n. & v.
--n.
1. a portion that a person receives from or gives to a common amount.
2 a a part contributed by an individual to an enterprise or commitment. b a part received by an individual from this (got a large share of the credit).
3 part-proprietorship of property held by joint owners, esp. any of the equal parts into which a company's capital is divided entitling its owner to a proportion of the profits.
--v.
1. tr. get or have or give a share of.
2 tr. use or benefit from jointly with others.
3 intr. have a share; be a sharer (shall I share with you?).
4 intr. (foll. by in) participate.
5 tr. (often foll. by out) a divide and distribute. b give away part of.
Phrases and idioms:
share and share alike make an equal division. share-farmer Austral. & NZ a tenant farmer who receives a share of the profits from the owner.
Derivatives:
shareable adj. (also sharable). sharer n.
Etymology: ME f. OE scearu division, rel. to SHEAR 2. n. PLOUGHSHARE.
Etymology: OE scear, sc{aelig}r f. Gmc