I. ˈstäk noun
Etymology: Middle English stok, from Old English stocc; akin to Old High German stoc stick
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. archaic : stump
b. archaic : a log or block of wood
c.
(1) archaic : something without life or consciousness
(2) : a dull, stupid, or lifeless person
2. : a supporting framework or structure: as
a. plural : the frame or timbers holding a ship during construction
b. plural : a device for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the feet or feet and hands can be locked
c.
(1) : the wooden part by which a shoulder arm is held during firing
(2) : the butt of an implement (as a whip or fishing rod)
(3) : bitstock , brace
d. : a long beam on a field gun forming the third support point in firing
3.
a. : the main stem of a plant : trunk
b.
(1) : a plant or plant part united with a scion in grafting and supplying mostly underground parts to a graft
(2) : a plant from which slips or cuttings are taken
4. : the crosspiece of an anchor — see anchor illustration
5.
a. : the original (as a person, race, or language) from which others derive : source
b.
(1) : the descendants of one individual : family , lineage
of European stock
(2) : a compound organism
c. : an infraspecific group usually having unity of descent
d.
(1) : a related group of languages
(2) : a language family
6.
a.
(1) : the equipment, materials, or supplies of an establishment
(2) : livestock
b. : a store or supply accumulated or available ; especially : the inventory of goods of a merchant or manufacturer
7.
a. archaic : a supply of capital : funds ; especially : money or capital invested or available for investment or trading
b.
(1) : the part of a tally formerly given to the creditor in a transaction
(2) : a debt or fund due (as from a government) for money loaned at interest ; also British : capital or a debt or fund bearing interest in perpetuity and not ordinarily redeemable as to principal
c.
(1) : the proprietorship element in a corporation usually divided into shares and represented by transferable certificates
(2) : a portion of such stock of one or more companies
(3) : stock certificate
8. : any of a genus ( Matthiola ) of Old World herbs or subshrubs of the mustard family with racemes of usually sweet-scented flowers
9. : a wide band or scarf worn about the neck especially by some clergymen
10.
a. : liquid in which meat, fish, or vegetables have been simmered that is used as a basis for soup, gravy, or sauce
b.
(1) : raw material from which something is manufactured
(2) : paper used for printing
c. : the portion of a pack of cards not distributed to the players at the beginning of a game
11.
a.
(1) : an estimate or evaluation of something
take stock of the situation
(2) : the estimation in which someone or something is held
his stock with the electorate remains high — Newsweek
b. : confidence or faith placed in someone or something
put little stock in his testimony
12. : the production and presentation of plays by a stock company
13. : stock car 1
•
- in stock
- out of stock
II. verb
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1. : to make (a domestic animal) pregnant
2. : to fit to or with a stock
3. : to provide with stock or a stock : supply
stock a stream with trout
4. : to procure or keep a stock of
our store stock s that brand
5. : to graze (livestock) on land
intransitive verb
1. : to send out new shoots
2. : to put in stock or supplies
stock up on canned goods
III. adjective
Date: 1625
1.
a. : kept regularly in stock
comes in stock sizes
a stock model
b. : commonly used or brought forward : standard
the stock answer
2.
a. : kept for breeding purposes : brood
a stock mare
b. : devoted to the breeding and rearing of livestock
a stock farm
c. : used or intended for livestock
a stock train
d. : used in herding livestock
a stock horse
a stock dog
3. : of or relating to a stock company
4. : employed in handling, checking, or taking care of the stock of merchandise on hand
a stock clerk