Stock (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

noun
  1. a supply of goods kept on hand for sale to customers by a merchant, distributor, manufacturer, etc.; inventory.
  2. a quantity of something accumulated, as for future use: a stock of provisions.
  3. livestock.
  4. a stock company: a job in summer stock.
  5. Finance.
    • the outstanding capital of a company or corporation.
    • the shares of a particular company or corporation.
    • the certificate of ownership of such stock; stock certificate.
    • (formerly) a tally or stick used in transactions between a debtor and a creditor.
  6. Horticulture.
    • in grafting, a stem in which the bud or scion is inserted.
    • 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. a line of descent or lineage; a racial or ethnic group.
  12. 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.
  15. Firearms.
    • the wooden or metal piece to which the barrel and mechanism of a rifle are attached.
    • 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,
    • 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.
    • a frame in which a horse or other animal is secured in a standing position for shoeing or for a veterinary operation.
    • the frame on which a boat rests while under construction.
  21. Nautical.
    • a vertical shaft forming part of a rudder and controlling the rudder's movement.
    • 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.
    • material being smelted in a blast furnace.
    • a metal piece to be forged.
  24. Printing.
    • a specified quality or kind of paper: glossy stock;card stock;offset stock.
    • 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. stuff (def. 15).
  27. 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 genusMatthiola, of the mustard family, especially M. incana, having fragrant white, blue, purple, reddish, or yellowish flowers.
  29. a rhizome or rootstock.
  30. a compound organism, as a colony of corals.
  31. a collar or a neckcloth fitting like a band around the neck.
  32. 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. rolling stock.
  35. boneyard (def. 3).
  36. stock car (def. 1).
  37. one of a set of three metal containers for holy oil.
  38. an irregular igneous intrusion, usually an offshoot of a batholith, often mineralized.
  39. a stocking.
  40. the frame of a plow to which the share, handles, etc., are attached.
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.
  4. banal; commonplace: a stock remark.
  5. pertaining to or designating the breeding and raising of livestock: stock farming.
  6. (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.
    • pertaining to a stock company.
    • appearing together in a repertoire, as a company.
    • forming part of a repertoire, as a play.
    • being a character type fixed by convention, as in the commedia dell'-arte, a harlequinade, minstrel show, or the like.
  9. of, relating to, or characteristic of a stock car.
verb (used with object)
  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)
  1. to lay in a stock of something (often followed by up).
Idioms
  1. on hand for use or sale: There are no more blue skirts in stock.
  2. lock1 (def. 30).
  3. on the stocks,
    • under construction, as especially a ship.
    • in progress or preparation: a new novel on the stocks.
  4. lacking a supply of, especially temporarily: We are out of stock in this item.
  5. 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.
  6. take stock,
    • to make an inventory of stock on hand.
    • to make an appraisal of resources or prospects: She took stock of her decorating scheme and decided it was time for a change.
noun
    • the total goods or raw material kept on the premises of a shop or business
    • (as modifier)
  1. a supply of something stored for future use
  2. finance
    • the capital raised by a company through the issue and subscription of shares entitling their holders to dividends, partial ownership, and usually voting rights
    • the proportion of such capital held by an individual shareholder
    • the shares of a specified company or industry
    • (formerly) the part of an account or tally given to a creditor
    • the debt represented by this
  3. standing or status
    • farm animals, such as cattle and sheep, bred and kept for their meat, skins, etc
    • (as modifier)
  4. the trunk or main stem of a tree or other plant
  5. horticulture
    • a rooted plant into which a scion is inserted during grafting
    • a plant or stem from which cuttings are taken
  6. the original type from which a particular race, family, group, etc, is derived
  7. a race, breed, or variety of animals or plants
  8. a small pen in which a single animal can be confined
  9. a line of descent
  10. any of the major subdivisions of the human species; race or ethnic group
  11. 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
  12. the handle of something, such as a whip or fishing rod
  13. the main body of a tool, such as the block of a plane
  14. short for diestock, gunstock, rolling stock
  15. (formerly) the part of a plough to which the irons and handles were attached
  16. the main upright part of a supporting structure
  17. a liquid or broth in which meat, fish, bones, or vegetables have been simmered for a long time
  18. film material before exposure and processing
  19. metallurgy
    • a portion of metal cut from a bar upon which a specific process, such as forging, is to be carried out
    • the material that is smelted in a blast furnace
  20. 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)
  21. a similar and related North American plant, Malcolmia maritima
  22. a long usually white neckcloth wrapped around the neck, worn in the 18th century and as part of modern riding dress
  23. a pile of cards left after the deal in certain games, from which players draw
    • the repertoire of plays available to a repertory company
    • (as modifier)
  24. (on some types of anchors) a crosspiece at the top of the shank under the ring
  25. the centre of a wheel
  26. an exposed igneous intrusion that is smaller in area than a batholith
  27. a log or block of wood
  28. See laughing stock
  29. an archaic word for stocking
  30. in stock
    • stored on the premises or available for sale or use
    • supplied with goods of a specified kind
  31. out of stock
    • not immediately available for sale or use
    • not having goods of a specified kind immediately available
  32. take stock
    • to make an inventory
    • to make a general appraisal, esp of prospects, resources, etc
  33. to attach importance to
  34. lock, stock, and barrel See lock 1 (def. 7)
adjective
  1. staple, standard
  2. being a cliché; hackneyed
verb
  1. to keep (goods) for sale
  2. to obtain a store of (something) for future use or sale
  3. to supply with live animals, fish, etc
  4. (of a plant) to put forth new shoots
  5. to punish by putting in the stocks
    Stock (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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