stock

I UK [stɒk] / US [stɑk] noun
Word forms "stock":
singular stock plural stocks
***

1) [countable] an amount of something that you keep so that you can use it when you need it

stock of:

Keep a good stock of nutritious foods available.

Their stocks of ammunition were running dangerously low.

a) [countable] the total amount of something that is available for people to use

Much of the city's housing stock is of very poor quality.

Time is vital if fish stocks are to recover.

b) [singular] an amount of facts, stories etc that someone knows

stock of:

He had soon exhausted his stock of jokes.

2) [uncountable] the goods that are available to buy in a shop

We're having some new stock delivered this afternoon.

in stock:

Do you have any of these batteries in stock at the moment?

out of stock (= not available now):

I'm afraid that size is out of stock.

3)

a) [countable, usually plural] business one of the equal parts into which the value of a company is divided

He made a living buying and selling stocks and shares.

Technology stocks fell sharply today.

b) [uncountable] the total amount of money and goods that a company owns that shows how much it is worth

4) [countable/uncountable] a liquid made by boiling meat, bones, or vegetables and used for making soups and sauces

Add half a pint of chicken stock.

5) [uncountable] animals such as cows and pigs that are kept on a farm

6) [uncountable] the type of people that your family comes from

He comes from Irish stock.

7) [countable/uncountable] a garden plant with a strong sweet smell and pink, white, or purple flowers

8) [uncountable] the degree to which someone is respected by other people

The Prime Minister's stock remains low with the electorate.

9) the stocks

[plural] a wooden frame that people were locked into in the past as a punishment

•

take stock (of something) — to spend some time thinking about the situation that you are in before you decide what to do next

Millie felt she needed to stop and take stock of her life.

- on the stocks

See:

lock II

II UK [stɒk] / US [stɑk] verb [transitive]
Word forms "stock":
present tense I/you/we/they stock he/she/it stocks present participle stocking past tense stocked past participle stocked

1) if a shop stocks goods, it has them available for sale

Do you stock fishing rods?

2) stock or stock up to fill a place with things that you will need

stock something with something:

They had stocked their cupboards with food for the holidays.

The bathroom was stocked with expensive toilet articles.

3) to put fish in a lake or river

stock something with something:

a river stocked with salmon

Phrasal verbs:

- stock up

See:

well-stocked

III UK [stɒk] / US [stɑk] adjective

a stock answer is one that someone always gives when they are asked a particular question

Hooper gave all the usual stock answers to their questions.