/ ʃeə(r); NAmE ʃer/ verb , noun
■ verb
USE AT SAME TIME
1.
share (sth) (with sb) to have or use sth at the same time as sb else :
[ vn ]
Sue shares a house with three other students.
[ v ]
There isn't an empty table. Would you mind sharing?
DIVIDE BETWEEN PEOPLE
2.
[ vn ] share sth (out) (among / between sb) to divide sth between two or more people :
We shared the pizza between the four of us.
—see also job-sharing , power-sharing
GIVE SOME OF YOURS
3.
share (sth) (with sb) to give some of what you have to sb else; to let sb use sth that is yours :
[ vn ]
Eli shared his chocolate with the other kids.
The conference is a good place to share information and exchange ideas.
[ v ]
John had no brothers or sisters and wasn't used to sharing.
FEELINGS / IDEAS / PROBLEMS
4.
share (in) sth | share sth (with sb) to have the same feelings, ideas, experiences, etc. as sb else :
[ vn ]
They shared a common interest in botany.
People often share their political views with their parents.
a view that is widely shared
shared values
[ v ]
I didn't really share in her love of animals.
5.
share sth (with sb) to tell other people about your ideas, experiences and feelings :
[ vn ]
Men often don't like to share their problems.
The two friends shared everything—they had no secrets.
Would you like to share your experience with the rest of the group?
[ v ]
The group listens while one person shares (= tells other people about their experiences, feelings, etc.) .
BLAME / RESPONSIBILITY
6.
share (in) sth | share sth (with sb) to be equally involved in sth or responsible for sth :
[ v ]
I try to get the kids to share in the housework.
[ vn ]
Both drivers shared the blame for the accident.
•
IDIOMS
- share and share alike
—more at trouble noun
■ noun
PART / AMOUNT OF STH
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] share (of / in sth) one part of sth that is divided between two or more people :
How much was your share of the winnings?
Next year we hope to have a bigger share of the market.
( BrE )
I'm looking for a flat share (= a flat that is shared by two or more people who are not related) .
—see also market share , timeshare
2.
[ sing. ] share (of sth) the part that sb has in a particular activity that involves several people :
We all did our share.
Everyone must accept their share of the blame.
3.
[ sing. ] share (of sth) an amount of sth that is thought to be normal or acceptable for one person :
I've had my share of luck in the past.
I've done my share of worrying for one day!
IN BUSINESS
4.
[ C ] share (in sth) any of the units of equal value into which a company is divided and sold to raise money. People who own shares receive part of the company's profits :
shares in British Telecom
a fall in share prices
—compare stock noun (4)
—see also ordinary share
FARM EQUIPMENT
5.
[ C ] ( NAmE ) = ploughshare
•
IDIOMS
see cake noun , fair adjective , lion , pie
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb and noun senses 1 to 4 Old English scearu division, part into which something may be divided , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch schare and German Schar troop, multitude, also to shear . The verb dates from the late 16th cent.