put stock in

Variant of stock

stock definition

stock (stäk)

noun

  1. the trunk of a tree
  2. Archaic
    1. a tree stump
    2. a wooden block or log
    1. a blockhead
    2. anything lacking life, motion, or feeling
    1. a plant stem into which a graft is inserted
    2. a plant from which cuttings are taken
  3. an underground plant stem; rhizome or rootstock
  4. any of a number of plants of the crucifer family, as evening stock (Mathiola bicornis), or Virginian stock (Malcomia maritima)
    1. the first of a line of descent; original progenitor, as of a human line, or type, as of a group of animals or plants
    2. a line of descent; lineage
    3. a strain, race, or other related group of animals or plants
    4. an ethnic group or other major subdivision of human beings
    5. a group of related languages or families of languages
  5. a supporting or main part, as the handle of an implement, weapon, etc., to which the working parts are attached; specif.,
    1. a bitstock or brace
    2. the butt or handle of a whip, fishing rod, etc.
    3. the block of a plane, in which the cutting blade is inserted
    4. the frame of a plow, to which the share, handles, etc. are attached
    5. the handle, usually wooden, to which the barrel of a rifle, shotgun, etc. is attached
  6. diestock
  7. a framework; specif.,
    1. a former instrument of punishment consisting of a heavy wooden frame with holes for confining the ankles and, sometimes, the wrists of an offender
    2. a frame of timbers supporting a ship during construction
    3. ☆ a frame in which an animal is held, as for shoeing
  8. something out of which other things are made; specif.,
    1. raw material
    2. water in which meat, fish, etc. has been boiled, used as a base for soup or gravy
  9. a specified kind of paper heavy stock
  10. a store or supply; specif.,
    1. all the animals, equipment, etc. kept and used on a farm
    2. livestock
    3. the total amount of goods on hand in a store, etc.; inventory
    4. the portion of a pack of playing cards or dominoes not dealt out but left to be drawn from
    1. Archaic the part of a tally given to the creditor
    2. a debt represented by a tally or tallies
    3. the capital invested in a company or corporation through the buying of shares, each of which entitles the buyer to a share in the ownership and, usually, dividends, voting rights, etc.
    4. the proportionate share in the ownership held by an individual stockholder
    5. the shares of a particular company, industry, etc. or shares, collectively
    6. stock certificate
    7. Informal a part interest in something
  11. a stock company (sense ), or its repertoire
  12. a former type of large, wide, stiff cravat
  13. stock car (sense )
  14. Obsolete a stocking

Etymology: ME stocke < OE stocc, akin to Ger stock, Du stok, a stick < IE base *(s)teu-, to strike, chop > stump, stub

transitive verb

  1. to provide with or attach to a stock to stock a firearm, plow, etc.
    1. to furnish (a farm) with stock or (a shop, etc.) with a stock
    2. to supply with to stock a pond with fish
  2. to keep or put in a supply of, as for sale or for future use
  3. ☆ to sow (land) with grass, clover, etc.

intransitive verb

  1. to put forth new shoots: said of a plant
  2. to put in a stock, or supply: often with up

adjective

  1. continually kept in stock stock sizes
  2. of the nature of something kept in stock; common, ordinary, hackneyed, or trite a stock excuse
  3. that deals with stock a stock boy
  4. Finance relating to stock or a stock company
    1. of or having to do with a theatrical stock company or its repertoire
    2. designating or of a character, as in a play or TV show, of a conventionalized type
  5. for breeding a stock mare
  6. of, or for the raising of, livestock stock farming
stock Idioms

in stock

available for sale or use; on hand

on the stocks

being built: said of a ship, etc.

out of stock

not immediately available for sale or use; not on hand

take stock

  1. to inventory the amount of stock on hand
  2. to make an estimate or appraisal, as of available resources, probabilities, etc.

take stock in

to have faith in, give credence to, or attribute real significance to

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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