- 1 [uncountable, countable] 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. It is important to carry out regular stock checks. CollocationsShoppingShopping go/go out/be out shopping go to (especially British English) the shops/(especially North American English) a store/(especially North American English) the mall do (British English) the shopping/(especially North American English) the grocery shopping/a bit of window-shopping (North American English, informal) hit/hang out at the mall try on clothes/shoes indulge in some retail therapy go on a spending spree cut/cut back on/reduce your spending be/get caught shoplifting donate something to/take something to/find something in (British English) a charity shop/(North American English) a thrift store buy/sell/find something at (British English) a car boot sale/(British English) a jumble sale/a garage sale/(North American English) a yard sale find/get/pick up a bargainAt the shop/store load/push/wheel (British English) a trolley/(North American English) a cart stand in/wait in (British English) the checkout queue/(North American English) the checkout line (North American English) stand in line/ (British English) queue at the checkout bag (especially North American English) (your) groceries pack (away) (especially British English) your shopping stack/stock/restock the shelves at a store (with something) be (found) on/appear on supermarket/shop/store shelves be in/have in/be out of/run out of stock deal with/help/serve customers run a special promotion be on special offerBuying goods make/complete a purchase buy/purchase something online/by mail order make/place/take an order for something buy/order something in bulk/in advance accept/take credit cards pay (in) cash/by (credit/debit) card/(British English) with a gift voucher/(North American English) with a gift certificate enter your PIN number ask for/get/obtain a receipt return/exchange an item/a product be entitled to/ask for/demand a refund compare prices offer (somebody)/give (somebody)/get/receive a 30% discount Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegood, high, huge, … verb + stockcarry, have, hold, … stock + verbbe up, increase, be down, … stock + nounroom, levels, control, … prepositionfrom stock, in stock, out of stock, … See full entry
- 2 [countable, uncountable] stock (of something) a supply of something 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) Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivegood, high, huge, … verb + stockcarry, have, hold, … stock + verbbe up, increase, be down, … stock + nounroom, levels, control, … prepositionfrom stock, in stock, out of stock, … See full entry finance
- 3[uncountable] the value of the shares in a company that have been sold
- 4[countable, usually plural] a share that somebody has bought in a company or business stock prices (North American English) to invest in stocks and bonds compare share Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivecompany, growth, domestic, … verb + stockacquire, buy, invest in, … stock + verbbe down, be up, drop, … stock + nounexchange, market, price, … prepositionin stocks phrasesinvestment in stocks, stocks and bonds, stocks and shares, … See full entry See related entries: Economy
- 5[uncountable, countable] (British English) money that is lent to a government at a fixed rate of interest; an official document that gives details of this government stock to invest in stocks and shares Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivecompany, growth, domestic, … verb + stockacquire, buy, invest in, … stock + verbbe down, be up, drop, … stock + nounexchange, market, price, … prepositionin stocks phrasesinvestment in stocks, stocks and bonds, stocks and shares, … See full entry See related entries: Economy farm animals
- 6[uncountable] farm animals, such as cows and sheep, that are kept for their meat, wool, etc. breeding stock see also livestock family/ancestors
- 7[uncountable] of farming, noble, French, etc. stock having the type of family or ancestors mentioned synonym descent food
- 8 [uncountable, countable] a liquid made by cooking bones, meat, etc. in water, used for making soups and sauces vegetable stock Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivebeef, chicken, fish, … verb + stockmake, dilute, reduce, … stock + nouncube prepositionin a/the stock See full entry See related entries: Meat for punishment
- 9stocks [plural] 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[uncountable] (formal) the degree to which somebody is respected or liked by other people Their stock is high/low. of gun
- 11[countable] the part of a gun that you hold against your shoulder when firing it plant
- 12 [uncountable, countable] a garden plant with brightly coloured flowers with a sweet smell theatre
- 13[countable] (North American English) = stock company see also laughing stock, rolling stock Word OriginOld 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”.Extra examples Do you have futon beds in stock or will I have to order one? Flavour the stock with bay leaves. Poach the fish in the stock. Red tights are out of stock. She has about $30 000 in stocks. Stocks of coal are running dangerously low. The big supermarkets carry huge stocks of most goods. The company’s stock hit an all-time high of $94.66. The housing stock is no longer large enough for the population. The offer is only available while stocks last. The rail company is investing in new rolling stock. The stocks were valued at $100 000. The total value of the stocks was over $3 million. They’re getting rid of their old stock. They’re selling off their old stock cheap. We can supply the table from stock. You can flavour/flavor the stock with bay leaves. declining fish stocks in the oceans dwindling fish stocks in the North Sea laws to protect fish stocks publicly traded stock I’m afraid we’re temporarily out of stock. I’ve built up a good stock of teaching materials over the years. That particular model is not currently in stock. We don’t carry a large stock of pine furniture. a country’s housing stockIdioms
supply
including everything He sold the business lock, stock and barrel.
in the process of being made, built or prepared Our new model is already on the stocks and will be available in the spring.
(especially North American English) to have a particular amount of belief in something She no longer puts much stock in their claims.
to stop and think carefully about the way in which a particular situation is developing in order to decide what to do next It was time to stand back and take stock of his career.
Check pronunciation: stock
