stock

Universal Words noun, verb, adjective noun supply 1 [U,C] 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. 2 [C,U] ~ (of sth) a supply of sth 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) finance 3 [U] the value of the shares in a company that have been sold 4 [C,usually pl.] a share that sb has bought in a company or business: stock prices * stocks and shares compareSHAREn.(4) 5 [U,C] (BrE) money that is lent to a government at a fixed rate of interest; an official document that gives details of this: government stock farm animals 6 [U] farm animals, such as cows and sheep, that are kept for their meat, wool, etc: breeding stock seealsoLIVESTOCK family / ancestors 7 [U] of farming, noble, French, etc. ~ having the type of family or ancestors mentioned food 8 [U,C] a liquid made by cooking bones, meat, etc. in water, used for making soups and sauces: fish / vegetable stock for punishment 9 (stocks) [pl.] 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 comparePILLORY respect 10 [U] (formal) the degree to which sb is respected or liked by other people: Their stock is high / low. of gun 11 [C] the part of a gun that you hold against your shoulder when firing it plant 12 [U,C] a garden plant with brightly coloured flowers with a sweet smell 13 [C] (technical) a plant from which a stem is taken to be added to another plant so that the two grow together; the plant onto which this stem is added theatre 14 [C] (AmE) = STOCKCOMPANY seealsoLAUGHINGSTOCK, ROLLINGSTOCK IDIOMS on the stocks in the process of being made, built or prepared: Our new model is already on the stocks and will be available in the spring. take stock (of sth) 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. moreatLOCKn. seealsoSTOCKTAKING verb [VN] 1 (of a shop / store) to keep a supply of a particular type of goods to sell: Do you stock green tea? * We stock a wide range of camping equipment. 2 [oftenpassive] ~ sth (with sth) to fill sth with food, books, etc: The pond was well stocked with fish. * a well-stocked library PHRASALVERBS stock sth<->up to fill sth with goods, food, etc: We need to stock up the freezer. stock up (on / with sth) to buy a lot of sth so that you can use it later: We ought to stock up on film before our trip. adjective [onlybeforenoun] 1 (disapproving) a stock excuse, answer, etc. is one that is often used because it is easy and convenient, but that is not very original: 'No comment,' was the actor's stock response. * Her stock excuse was: 'I'm washing my hair tonight'. 2 usually available for sale in a shop/store: stock sizes