stock

American  

[stok] / stɒk /

noun

stocks plural

1. a supply of goods kept on hand for sale to customers by a merchant, distributor, manufacturer, etc.; inventory.

   Synonyms:

   reserve, provisions, store

2. a quantity of something accumulated, as for future use.

   a stock of provisions.

3. livestock.

4. Theater. a stock company.

   a job in summer stock.

5. Finance.

   1. the outstanding capital of a company or corporation.

   2. the shares of a particular company or corporation.

   3. the certificate of ownership of such stock; stock certificate.

   4. (formerly) a tally or stick used in transactions between a debtor and a creditor.

6. Horticulture.

   1. Also called understock.  in grafting, a stem in which the bud or scion is inserted.

   2. a stem, tree, or plant that furnishes slips or cuttings; stock plant.

7. the trunk or main stem of a tree or other plant, as distinguished from roots and branches.

8. the type from which a group of animals or plants has been derived.

9. a species or other related group of animals or plants.

10. the person from whom a given line of descent is derived; the original progenitor.

11. Anthropology. a line of descent or lineage; a racial or ethnic group.

12. Linguistics. a category consisting of language families that, because of resemblances in grammatical structure and vocabulary, are considered likely to be related by common origin.

13. any grouping of related languages.

14. the handle of a whip, fishing rod, etc.

    Synonyms:

    haft

15. Firearms.

    1. the wooden or metal piece to which the barrel and mechanism of a rifle are attached.

    2. a part of an automatic weapon, as a machine gun, similar in position or function.

16. the trunk or stump of a tree, left standing.

17. a dull or stupid person.

18. something lifeless or senseless.

19. the main upright part of anything, especially a supporting structure.

20. stocks,

    1. a former instrument of punishment consisting of a framework with holes for securing the ankles and, sometimes, the wrists, used to expose an offender to public derision.

    2. a frame in which a horse or other animal is secured in a standing position for shoeing or for a veterinary operation.

    3. the frame on which a boat rests while under construction.

21. Nautical.

    1. a vertical shaft forming part of a rudder and controlling the rudder's movement.

    2. a transverse piece of wood or metal near the ring on some anchors.

22. the metal or wooden body of a carpenter's plane.

23. Metallurgy.

    1. material being smelted in a blast furnace.

    2. a metal piece to be forged.

24. Printing.

    1. a specified quality or kind of paper: card stock;

       glossy stock;

       card stock;

       offset stock.

    2. the paper for printing a particular job.

       We don't have enough stock for that large a run.

25. the raw material from which something is made.

26. Papermaking. stuff.

27. Cooking. the liquor or broth prepared by boiling meat, fish, chicken, etc., with or without vegetables or seasonings, and used especially as a foundation for soups and sauces.

28. any of several plants belonging to the genus Matthiola, of the mustard family, especially M. incana, having fragrant white, blue, purple, reddish, or yellowish flowers.

29. a rhizome or rootstock.

30. Zoology. a compound organism, as a colony of corals.

31. a collar or a neckcloth fitting like a band around the neck.

32. Cards. the portion of a pack of cards that, in certain games, is not dealt out to the players, but is left on the table, to be drawn from as occasion requires.

33. an adjustable wrench for holding dies for cutting screws.

34. Railroads. rolling stock.

35. Dominoes. boneyard.

36. Informal. stock car.

37. Roman Catholic Church. one of a set of three metal containers for holy oil.

38. Geology, Mining. an irregular igneous intrusion, usually an offshoot of a batholith, often mineralized.

39. Archaic. a stocking.

40. Obsolete. the frame of a plow to which the share, handles, etc., are attached.

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adjective

1. kept regularly on hand, as for use or sale; staple; standard.

   stock articles.

2. having as one's job the care of a concern's goods.

   a stock clerk.

3. of the common or ordinary type; in common use.

   a stock argument.

   Synonyms:

   usual

4. banal; commonplace.

   a stock remark.

5. pertaining to or designating the breeding and raising of livestock.

   stock farming.

6. Southern U.S. (chiefly Southern Appalachian and South Atlantic States). (of farm animals) being a fully grown male.

   a stock hog.

7. of or relating to the stock of a company or corporation.

   a stock report.

8. Theater.

   1. pertaining to a stock company.

   2. appearing together in a repertoire, as a company.

   3. forming part of a repertoire, as a play.

   4. being a character type fixed by convention, as in the commedia dell'-arte, a harlequinade, minstrel show, or the like.

9. Informal. of, relating to, or characteristic of a stock car.

verb (used with object)

stocks, present (3rd person singular) stocked, past participle, past stocking present participle

1. to furnish with a stock or supply.

2. to furnish with stock, as a farm with horses, cattle, etc.

3. to lay up in store, as for future use.

4. to fasten to or provide with a stock, as a rifle, plow, bell, anchor, etc.

5. to put in the stocks as a punishment.

verb (used without object)

stocks, present (3rd person singular) stocked, past participle, past stocking present participle

1. to lay in a stock of something (often followed byup ).

idioms

1. lock, stock, and barrel. lock.

2. out of stock, lacking a supply of, especially temporarily.

   We are out of stock in this item.

3. take stock,

   1. to make an inventory of stock on hand.

   2. to make an appraisal of resources or prospects.

      She took stock of her decorating scheme and decided it was time for a change.

4. in stock, on hand for use or sale.

   There are no more blue skirts in stock.

5. on the stocks,

   1. under construction, as especially a ship.

   2. in progress or preparation.

      a new novel on the stocks.

6. take / put stock in, to put confidence in or attach importance to; believe; trust.

   Considering his general unreliability, I can't take stock in what he has told you.

stock British  

/ stɒk /

noun

1. 1. (sometimes plural) the total goods or raw material kept on the premises of a shop or business

   2. ( as modifier )

      a stock clerk

      stock book

2. a supply of something stored for future use

   he keeps a good stock of whisky

3. finance

   1. the capital raised by a company through the issue and subscription of shares entitling their holders to dividends, partial ownership, and usually voting rights

   2. the proportion of such capital held by an individual shareholder

   3. the shares of a specified company or industry

   4. (formerly) the part of an account or tally given to a creditor

   5. the debt represented by this

4. standing or status

5. 1. farm animals, such as cattle and sheep, bred and kept for their meat, skins, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      stock farming

6. the trunk or main stem of a tree or other plant

7. horticulture

   1. a rooted plant into which a scion is inserted during grafting

   2. a plant or stem from which cuttings are taken See also rootstock

8. the original type from which a particular race, family, group, etc, is derived

9. a race, breed, or variety of animals or plants

10. (often plural) a small pen in which a single animal can be confined

11. a line of descent

12. any of the major subdivisions of the human species; race or ethnic group

13. the part of a rifle, sub-machine-gun, etc, into which the barrel and firing mechanism is set: held by the firer against the shoulder

14. the handle of something, such as a whip or fishing rod

15. the main body of a tool, such as the block of a plane

16. short for diestock gunstock rolling stock

17. (formerly) the part of a plough to which the irons and handles were attached

18. the main upright part of a supporting structure

19. a liquid or broth in which meat, fish, bones, or vegetables have been simmered for a long time

20. film material before exposure and processing

21. metallurgy

    1. a portion of metal cut from a bar upon which a specific process, such as forging, is to be carried out

    2. the material that is smelted in a blast furnace

22. Also called: gillyflower.  any of several plants of the genus Matthiola, such as M. incana and M. bicornis ( evening or night-scented stock ), of the Mediterranean region, cultivated for their brightly coloured flowers: Brassicaceae (crucifers)

23. a similar and related North American plant, Malcolmia maritima

24. a long usually white neckcloth wrapped around the neck, worn in the 18th century and as part of modern riding dress

25. cards a pile of cards left after the deal in certain games, from which players draw

26. 1. the repertoire of plays available to a repertory company

    2. ( as modifier )

       a stock play

27. (on some types of anchors) a crosspiece at the top of the shank under the ring

28. the centre of a wheel

29. an exposed igneous intrusion that is smaller in area than a batholith

30. a log or block of wood

31. See laughing stock

32. an archaic word for stocking

33. 1. stored on the premises or available for sale or use

    2. supplied with goods of a specified kind

34. 1. not immediately available for sale or use

    2. not having goods of a specified kind immediately available

35. 1. to make an inventory

    2. to make a general appraisal, esp of prospects, resources, etc

36. to attach importance to

37. See lock 1

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adjective

1. staple, standard

   stock sizes in clothes

2. (prenominal) being a cliché; hackneyed

   a stock phrase

verb

1. (tr) to keep (goods) for sale

2. (intr; usually foll by up or up on) to obtain a store of (something) for future use or sale

   to stock up on beer

3. (tr) to supply with live animals, fish, etc

   to stock a farm

4. (intr) (of a plant) to put forth new shoots

5. obsolete (tr) to punish by putting in the stocks

stock Scientific  

/ stŏk /

1. The trunk or main stem of a tree or another plant.

2. A plant or stem onto which a graft is made.

3. A plant or tree from which cuttings and scions are taken.

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stock Cultural  

1. A share in the ownership of a corporation.

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stock More Idioms  

1. see in stock; lock, stock, and barrel; make a laughing stock of; take stock; take stock in.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonstock
  noun
• prestock
  noun
• stocker
  noun
• substock
  noun
• destock
  verb (used with object)
• stocklike
  adjective
• unstocked
  adjective
• well-stocked
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• stocks
  plural

Participles

• stocking
  present
• stocked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• stock
  simple
• stocks
  simple
• have stocked
  perfect
• has stocked
  perfect
• am stocking
  progressive
• are stocking
  progressive
• is stocking
  progressive
• have been stocking
  perfect progressive
• has been stocking
  perfect progressive

Past

• stocked
  simple
• had stocked
  perfect
• was stocking
  progressive
• were stocking
  progressive
• had been stocking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will stock
  simple
• will have stocked
  perfect
• will be stocking
  progressive
• will have been stocking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of stock

First recorded before 900; (for the noun) Middle English; Old English stoc(c) “stump, stake, post, log”; cognate with German Stock, Old Norse stokkr “tree trunk”; verb derivative of the noun

Explanation

Stock is collective noun for the stuff a store or a company has to sell, be it toilet paper, automobiles or clothing. Many stores close once a year for a few days to do an inventory of their stock. Stock is used in all kinds of contexts, as both a noun and a verb, but always has an eye on the things that are present and available. Stock boys stock the shelves at grocery stores. Consumers stock up on toilet paper. Car thieves take stock (assess the stuff they can do) when they run out of gas and the sirens are getting louder. And finally, companies sell stock — small shares of ownership — in their companies to raise money.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stock stocks stocked stocking

And Tesla’s stock is cratering after rising capital spending revealed on its earnings call Wednesday spooked investors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

The hunt is on for the magic artificial-intelligence model that will enable investors to beat the stock market.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

Cost has becomes a major issue after Anthropic and its archrival OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, both filed for stock market listings in June.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

And since the start of last year, two of Regeneron’s late-stage drugs have failed, sending the stock down more than 15% year-to-date.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Dodger was shivering uncontrollably, but was otherwise stock still, his eyes spinning this way and that in a panic.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

The added threat to supply comes as global stocks are low, including in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Equally encouraging investors to buy stocks amid the pullback was Tom Lee, head of research at financial research boutique Fundstrat.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

Wall Street opened broadly stable, with the Nasdaq Composite dipping 0.1 percent as tech stocks continued to struggle.

From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026

Billions of dollars of losses in artificial-intelligence stocks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Kit had no doubt at all who one at least of the culprits in the stocks would be, and neither, by the smug set of her pretty lips, had Judith.

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare

Bigelow Apothecaries in New York, doesn’t sell peptides in his store, which is stocked with a mix of vitamins, high-end beauty supplies and medications — all products he believes to be safe.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

By now, your box of stock has been used up and your fridge is stocked with plenty of leftovers.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

American roadsides and strip malls are stocked with retailers offering competitive pricing and an aversion to soft lighting.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

Son-in-law Jaya develops recipes and makes ice cream for the business and the family is working towards the goal of seeing their products stocked on supermarket shelves.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

The rest of the hold was stocked with crates, barrels, burlap sacks.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee

You may miss stocking up in well-lit superstores but enjoy getting to know shopkeepers who run tiny bodegas.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

If you’re like me and still love stocking up on paper coupons, use them!

From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026

After having stocking issues in some regions earlier this year, Steam Deck is back on sale, with a big change in the form of 40%-plus price bump.

From Barron's ● May 29, 2026

Vicky Fraser is a bibliographic services manager with LibrariesWest, an organisation in charge of stocking and running public libraries in Bristol, Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

From BBC ● May 24, 2026

Miss Simpson made a dull speech as she presented Charlie with a gift from the school: a wool stocking cap and some stationery.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

Related Words

• carry
• equip
• fill
• furnish
• handle
• hoard
• provide
• sell
• stockpile