stock

1 of 3

noun

ˈstäk 

1

a

: a store or supply accumulated or available

especially : the inventory of goods of a merchant or manufacturer

b(1)

: the equipment, materials, or supplies of an establishment

(2)

: livestock

2

a

: the proprietorship element in a corporation usually divided into shares and represented by transferable certificates

b

: a portion of such stock of one or more companies

c

: stock certificate

3

: a supporting framework or structure: such as

a

stocks plural : a device for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the feet or feet and hands can be locked

b(1)

: the wooden part by which a shoulder arm is held during firing

(2)

: the butt of an implement (such as a whip or fishing rod)

(3)

: bitstock, brace

c

: a long beam on a field gun forming the third support point in firing

d

stocks plural : the frame or timbers holding a ship during construction

4

a(1)

: the descendants of one individual : family, lineage

of European stock

(2)

: a compound organism

b

: the original (such as a person, race, or language) from which others derive : source

c

: an infraspecific group usually having unity of descent

d(1)

: a related group of languages

(2)

: a language family

5

a

: liquid in which meat, fish, or vegetables have been simmered that is used as a basis for soup, gravy, or sauce

b(1)

: raw material from which something is manufactured

(2)

: paper used for printing

c

: the portion of a pack of cards not distributed to the players at the beginning of a game

6

a

: confidence or faith placed in someone or something

put little stock in his testimony

b(1)

: an estimate or evaluation of something

take stock of the situation

(2)

: the estimation in which someone or something is held

his stock with the electorate remains high

—Newsweek

7

a

: the main stem of a plant : trunk

b(1)

: a plant or plant part united with a scion in grafting and supplying mostly underground parts to a graft

(2)

: a plant from which slips or cuttings are taken

8

: the production and presentation of plays by a stock company

9

: stock car sense 1

10

: the crosspiece of an anchor see anchor illustration

11

a(1)

: the part of a tally formerly given to the creditor in a transaction

(2)

: a debt or fund due (as from a government) for money loaned at interest

also, British : capital or a debt or fund bearing interest in perpetuity and not ordinarily redeemable as to principal

b

archaic : a supply of capital : funds

especially : money or capital invested or available for investment or trading

12

: any of a genus (Matthiola) of Old World herbs or subshrubs of the mustard family with racemes of usually sweet-scented flowers

13

: a wide band or scarf worn about the neck especially by some clergymen

14

a(1)

: a dull, stupid, or lifeless person

(2)

archaic : something without life or consciousness

b

archaic : stump

c

archaic : a log or block of wood

stock

2 of 3

verb

stocked; stocking; stocks

transitive verb

1

: to procure or keep a stock of

our store stocks that brand

2

: to provide with stock or a stock : supply

stock a stream with trout

3

: to fit to or with a stock

4

: to graze (livestock) on land

5

: to make (a domestic animal) pregnant

intransitive verb

1

: to put in stock or supplies

stock up on canned goods

2

: to send out new shoots

stock

3 of 3

adjective

1

a

: commonly used or brought forward : standard

the stock answer

b

: kept regularly in stock

comes in stock sizes

a stock model

2

: employed in handling, checking, or taking care of the stock of merchandise on hand

a stock clerk

3

a

: kept for breeding purposes : brood

a stock mare

b

: devoted to the breeding and rearing of livestock

a stock farm

c

: used or intended for livestock

a stock train

d

: used in herding livestock

a stock horse

a stock dog

4

: of or relating to a stock company

Phrases

in stock

: on hand : in the store and ready for delivery

out of stock

: having no more on hand : completely sold out

Synonyms

Noun

• supply
• inventory
• repertoire
• pool

Adjective

• conventional
• usual
• current
• prevailing
• customary
• standard

Examples of stock in a Sentence

Noun

That camera is out of stock.

Do you have any more light bulbs in stock?

They carry a large stock of computer software.

We built up an ample stock of food before the storm.

She always seems to have a fresh stock of funny jokes.

The value of his stocks has soared.

Most of her money is invested in stocks.

Do you own any stock?

Verb

Our store stocks only the finest goods.

Do you stock this item?

The bar is stocked with beer, wine and liquor.

They stocked the shelves in the store with a variety of imported foods.

Adjective

Here are the stock patterns you can choose from.

She gave a stock answer to the reporter's question.

a dull narrative with stock characters

That item is a stock model.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While certain styles are back in stock, a few shades and sizes are already selling out again. —Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025

But Musk would get those shares only if the value of Tesla stock increases significantly in coming years. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025

Verb

The team stocked its starting rotation with veterans earning eight-figure paydays. —Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

Both bedrooms—a primary with a king bed, plus a second with two twin beds—feature en-suite bathrooms stocked with Le Labo toiletries. —Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Hospitals also have to stock (or de-stock) IUDs depending on the bill. —Subramaniam Vincent, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

Other entertainment players reward their teams with a blend of salary, stock grants, non-stock bonuses and options. —Brent Lang, Variety, 30 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stok, from Old English stocc; akin to Old High German stoc stick

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 14b

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 5

Adjective

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing stock

• bump stock
• capital stock
• common stock
• housing stock
• joint-stock company
• lock, stock, and barrel
• meme stock
• penny stock
• place/put stock in
• preferred stock
• rolling stock
• seed stock
• stock boy
• stock car
• stock certificate
• stock company
• stock cube
• stock dividend
• stock exchange
• stock footage
• stock-in-trade
• stock market
• stock option
• stock photo
• stock saddle
• stock split
• stock-still
• stock up
• summer stock
• take stock
• tracking stock
• treasury stock

Rhymes for stock

• balk
• baulk
• bloc
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• clock
• cock

Kids Definition

stock

1 of 3 noun

ˈstäk 

1

a

archaic : stump entry 1 sense 2

b

archaic : a log or block of wood

c

archaic : something without life or consciousness

d

: a dull, stupid, or lifeless person

2

a

plural : a timber frame with holes to contain the feet or feet and hands of a wrongdoer as public punishment

b

: the part of a crossbow or long gun that is held against the shoulder or in the hand when in use

3

a

: the main stem of a plant : trunk

b

: a plant or plant part that is joined to a living branch or stem and makes up the lower or underground parts in a graft

4

a

: the original (as a human being, race, or language) from which others descend : source

b

: ancestry sense 2, lineage

5

a

: the equipment or goods of an establishment

b

: farm animals : livestock

6

a

: the ownership element of a corporation divided to give the owners an interest and usually voting power

b

: a portion of such stock

7

: a wide band or scarf worn about the neck especially by some members of the clergy

8

a

: liquid in which meat, fish, or vegetables have been simmered and which is used to make soup, gravy, or sauce

b

: raw material

9

: confidence placed in someone or something

10

: the production and presentation of plays by a stock company

stock

2 of 3 verb

1

: to fit to or with a stock

2

: to provide with or acquire stock or a stock

stock up on food

3

: to get or keep a stock of

a store that stocks only the finest goods

stock

3 of 3 adjective

1

: kept regularly in stock

a stock model

2

: commonly used or brought forward : standard

the stock answer

Medical Definition

stock

noun

ˈstäk 

: a population, colony, or culture of organisms used for scientific research or medical purposes

smallpox virus stocks retained for research into new vaccines and treatments against smallpox

Legal Definition

stock

noun

1

a

: the equipment, materials, or supplies of a business

b

: a store or supply accumulated

especially : the inventory of the goods of a merchant or manufacturer

2

: the ownership element in a corporation usually divided into shares and represented by transferable certificates

also : the certificate evidencing ownership of one or more shares of stock

— capital stock

: the stock that a corporation may issue under its charter including both common and preferred stock

: the outstanding shares of a joint stock company considered as an aggregate

: capitalization sense 4

— common stock

: a class of stock whose holders share in company profits (as through dividends) on a pro rata basis, may vote for directors and on important matters such as mergers, and may have limited access to information not publicly available

— cumulative preferred stock

: preferred stock whose holders are entitled to the payment of cumulative dividends as well as current dividends before common stockholders are paid

— growth stock

: stock issued by a growth company

— margin stock

: stock that may be purchased in a margin account

— no-par value stock

: stock issued with no par value which may be carried for corporate accounting purposes as part of the capital stock or as part of the capital surplus to the extent allowed by law

called also no-par stock

— penny stock

: the stock of a small company not listed on a major exchange and traditionally selling at less than a dollar a share

— preferred stock

: a class of corporate stock whose holders are guaranteed payment of dividends and a share of asset distribution before the holders of common stock but are usually denied voting rights

— Treasury stock

: stock that is reacquired and held by the issuing company (as to increase the market value of traded shares)

— voting stock

: stock (as common stock) entitling the holder to vote in matters of corporate governance

— watered stock

: stock issued with a par value greater than the value of the underlying assets