Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: stocc 'tree-trunk, block of wood'

stock

1 noun
     
NEW! See related topics: THEATRETRADESTOCKS AND SHARESCOOKINGPLANTSAGRICULTURE
stock1 S3 W3
1

in a shop

[uncountable and countable]BBT a supply of a particular type of thing that a shop has available to sell:
We have a huge stock of quality carpets on sale.
Buy now while stocks last!
out of stock/in stock (=unavailable or available in a particular shop)
I'm sorry, that swimsuit is completely out of stock in your size.
2

finance

a) [countable] especially American EnglishBFS a share in a company:
the trading of stocks and shares
b) [uncountable]BFS the total value of all of a company's shares
3

amount available

[countable] the total amount of something that is available to be used in a particular area:
Cod stocks in the North Atlantic have dropped radically.
the stock of housing in rural areas
4

supplies

[countable] a supply of something that you keep and can use when you need to
stock of
He keeps a stock of medicines in the cupboard.
The country has been building up its stock of weapons.
5

take stock (of something)

to think carefully about the things that have happened in a situation in order to decide what to do next:
While in hospital, Jeremy took stock of his life.
6

cooking

[uncountable and countable]DFC a liquid made by boiling meat or bones and vegetables, which is used to make soups or to add flavour to other dishes:
chicken stock
vegetable stock
7

gun

[countable] the part of a gun that you hold or put against your shoulder, usually made of wood
8

animals

[uncountable]TA farm animals, especially cattle [= livestock]
9

the stocks

a) SC a wooden structure in a public place to which criminals were fastened by their feet or hands in the past
b) TTW a wooden structure in which a ship is held while it is being built
10

somebody's stock is high/low

if someone's stock is high or low, they are very popular or very unpopular:
Simon's stock is high in the network news business.
11

stock of jokes/knowledge/courage etc

the jokes, knowledge etc that someone knows or has:
John seems to have an inexhaustible stock of funny stories.
12

be of Scottish/Protestant/good etc stock

to belong to a family that in the past lived in Scotland, were Protestants, were respected etc
13

flower

[countable]HBP a plant with pink, white, or light purple flowers and a sweet smell
14

plant

[countable] a thick part of a stem onto which another plant can be added so that the two plants grow together
15

actors

[countable] American EnglishAPT a stock company (2)
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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