/ stɒk; NAmE stɑːk/ noun , verb , adjective
■ noun
SUPPLY
1.
[ U , C ] a supply of goods that is available for sale in a shop / store :
We have a fast turnover of stock.
That particular model is not currently in stock .
I'm afraid we're temporarily out of stock .
We don't carry a large stock of pine furniture.
2.
[ C , U ] stock (of sth) a supply of sth that is available for use :
She's built up a good stock of teaching materials over the years.
Food stocks are running low.
a country's housing stock (= all the houses available for living in)
FINANCE
3.
[ U ] the value of the shares in a company that have been sold
4.
[ C , usually pl. ] a share that sb has bought in a company or business :
stock prices
stocks and shares
—compare share noun (4)
5.
[ U , C ] ( BrE ) money that is lent to a government at a fixed rate of interest; an official document that gives details of this :
government stock
FARM ANIMALS
6.
[ U ] farm animals, such as cows and sheep, that are kept for their meat, wool, etc. :
breeding stock
—see also livestock
FAMILY / ANCESTORS
7.
[ U ] of farming, noble, French, etc. ~ having the type of family or ancestors mentioned
SYN descent
FOOD
8.
[ U , C ] a liquid made by cooking bones, meat, etc. in water, used for making soups and sauces :
vegetable stock
FOR PUNISHMENT
9.
stocks [ pl. ] a wooden structure with holes for the feet, used in the past to lock criminals in as a form of punishment, especially in a public place
—compare pillory
RESPECT
10.
[ U ] ( formal ) the degree to which sb is respected or liked by other people :
Their stock is high / low .
OF GUN
11.
[ C ] the part of a gun that you hold against your shoulder when firing it
PLANT
12.
[ U , C ] a garden plant with brightly coloured flowers with a sweet smell
THEATRE
13.
[ C ] ( NAmE ) = stock company
—see also laughing stock , rolling stock
•
IDIOMS
- on the stocks
- take stock (of sth)
—more at lock noun
—see also stocktaking
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
( of a shop / store ) to keep a supply of a particular type of goods to sell :
Do you stock green tea?
2.
[ often passive ] stock sth (with sth) to fill sth with food, books, etc. :
The pond was well stocked with fish.
a well-stocked library
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- stock sth up
- stock up (on / with sth)
■ adjective [ only before noun ]
1.
( disapproving ) a stock excuse, answer, etc. is one that is often used because it is easy and convenient, but that is not very original :
'No comment,' was the actor's stock response.
2.
usually available for sale in a shop / store :
stock sizes
SYN standard
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English stoc(c) trunk, block of wood, post , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch stok and German Stock stick. The notion store, fund (senses 1 to 5) arose in late Middle English and is of obscure origin, perhaps expressing “growth from a central stem” or “firm foundation”.