stock
gb/stˈɑk/ us/stˈɑk/
A2
English
~ 1200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
share in a company
A small part of a company that you can buy or sell, which shows you own part of it.
Usage pattern:
to buy/sell [stock]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'stock' with 'store' because both can relate to goods, but in finance 'stock' means company shares.
Synonyms
share (General British English term for the same concept; 'stock' is more common in American English.)
Antonyms
bond (A debt investment rather than ownership in a company.)
Collocations
buy stock
|sell stock
|own stock
|stock price
|stock market
Themes
business
|finance
Examples
- She decided to invest in technology stocks.
- The company's stock rose by 10% after the announcement.
- He sold all his stocks before the market crash.
- Stock prices have been volatile this year.
Learner examples
- I bought stock in a big company.
- The stock went up today.
- She sold her stock for a good price.
- He owns stock in many companies.
Noun
A2
entity
2
flavored cooking liquid
A hot liquid made by cooking meat, bones, or vegetables in water, used to make soup or sauce.
Usage pattern:
[make] [stock]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'stock' with 'soup'; stock is an ingredient, not usually eaten alone.
Synonyms
broth ('Broth' can be similar but is often lighter and may be served on its own.)
Antonyms
water (Plain water lacks the flavor and nutrients of stock.)
Collocations
chicken stock
|beef stock
|vegetable stock
|homemade stock
Themes
food
|cooking
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- She used chicken stock as the base for the soup.
- Simmer the bones to make a rich stock.
- The recipe calls for two cups of vegetable stock.
Learner examples
- I need chicken stock for this soup.
- He made beef stock yesterday.
- Vegetable stock is good for vegetarian meals.
Noun
A2
entity
3
available goods supply
The goods a shop has to sell or keep for use.
Usage pattern:
[in/out of] stock
Common mistake:
'Stock' in this sense is uncountable; learners may incorrectly say 'stocks' when referring to goods in general.
Synonyms
inventory ('Inventory' is more formal and used in business contexts.)
Antonyms
shortage (A lack of goods available.)
Collocations
in stock
|out of stock
|stock levels
|check stock
Themes
business
|commerce
|work
Examples
- We have plenty of this product in stock.
- The store is out of stock on that item.
- They are checking the stock levels in the warehouse.
Learner examples
- The shop has many toys in stock.
- Sorry, we are out of stock.
- They check their stock every day.
Noun
B2
entity
4
handle part of gun/tool
The long wooden or metal part of a gun or tool that you hold.
Synonyms
butt ('Butt' refers specifically to the back end of a gun's stock.)
Collocations
rifle stock
|wooden stock
Themes
weapons
|tools
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He replaced the rifle's wooden stock with a synthetic one.
- The craftsman carved an intricate design into the gun's stock.
Learner examples
- The gun has a wooden stock.
- He cleaned the rifle's stock carefully.
Noun
B2
entity
5
family background or ancestry
The family or group an animal or person comes from.
Synonyms
lineage ('Lineage' is more formal and often historical.)
Collocations
of noble stock
|good breeding stock
Themes
people
|biology
|relationships
Examples
- He comes from farming stock.
- These horses are from excellent breeding stock.
Learner examples
- She is from farming stock.
- The dog is from good breeding stock.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stock
IPA
GB/stˈɑk/
US/stˈɑk/
Syllables & stress
stock (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (stock)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: stock
- Plural: stock, stocks
Word family
Forms
stocks
noun
Related words
stockroom
noun
stockpile
noun B2
Advanced or less common
stockholder
noun
stockbroker
noun
Expressions
in stock
1/ˈɪn stˈɑk/
fixed phrase
available to sell or use now
Available to be sold or used now.
Examples
- This item is currently in stock.
- We have all sizes in stock at the moment.
laughing stock
1/lˈæfɪŋ stˈɑk/
idiom
informal
person everyone laughs at as foolish
A person who everyone laughs at because they did something silly or failed badly.
Examples
- After his speech went wrong, he became the laughing stock of the office.
- Don't mess it up or you'll be the laughing stock of the team.
out of stock
1/ˈaʊt əv stˈɑk/
fixed phrase
not available now for sale/use
Not available to be sold or used now.
Examples
- Sorry, that model is out of stock.
- The toy was out of stock before Christmas.
stock up (on something)
1/stˈɑk ˈʌp ˈɔn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
buy large supply for later use
To buy a lot of something so you will have it later.
Examples
- We need to stock up on food before the storm hits.
- She stocked up on paper towels during the sale.
take stock (of something)
1/tˈeɪk stˈɑk əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
idiom
assess situation before acting
To stop and think carefully about a situation before deciding what to do next.
Examples
- After the meeting, she took stock of the team's progress.
- It's time to take stock and plan our next steps.