3 VERB [no cont] If a shop stocks particular goods, it keeps a supply of them to sell. □ [V n] The shop stocks everything from chocolate to recycled loo paper.
4 N‑UNCOUNT A shop's stock is the total amount of goods which it has available to sell. □ We took the decision to withdraw a quantity of stock from sale.
5 VERB If you stock something such as a cupboard, shelf, or room, you fill it with food or other things. □ [V n] I worked stocking shelves in a grocery store. □ [V n + with ] Some families stocked their cellars with food and water. □ [be V -ed] The kitchen cupboard was stocked with tins of soup. ● PHRASAL VERB Stock up means the same as stock . □ [V n P + with ] I had to stock the boat up with food. □ [V P n + with ] You can stock up the freezer with ice cream ready for the next sunny day [Also V n P ]
6 N‑COUNT If you have a stock of things, you have a supply of them stored in a place ready to be used. □ Stocks of ammunition were running low.
7 N‑SING The stock of something is the total amount of it that is available in a particular area. [mainly BRIT ] □ …the stock of accommodation available to be rented.
8 N‑UNCOUNT If you are from a particular stock , you are descended from a particular group of people. [FORMAL ] □ We are both from working class stock.
9 N‑PLURAL Stock are cattle, sheep, pigs, or other animals which are kept by a farmer, usually ones which have been specially bred. □ I am carefully selecting the breeding stock.
10 ADJ [ADJ n] A stock answer, expression, or way of doing something is one that is very commonly used, especially because people cannot be bothered to think of something new. □ My boss had a stock response–'If it ain't broke, don't fix it!'.
11 N‑VAR Stock is a liquid, usually made by boiling meat, bones, or vegetables in water, that is used to give flavour to soups and sauces.
12 → see also stocking , laughing stock , rolling stock
13 PHRASE If goods are in stock , a shop has them available to sell. If they are out of stock , it does not. □ Check that your size is in stock. □ Lemon and lime juice were both temporarily out of stock.
14 PHRASE If you take stock , you pause to think about all the aspects of a situation or event before deciding what to do next. □ It was time to take stock of the situation.
15 lock, stock, and barrel → see barrel
▸ stock up
1 → see stock 5
2 PHRASAL VERB If you stock up on something, you buy a lot of it, in case you cannot get it later. □ [V P + on/with ] The authorities have urged people to stock up on fuel.
stock|ade /stɒke I d/ (stockades ) N‑COUNT A stockade is a wall of large wooden posts built around an area to keep out enemies or wild animals. □ …the inner stockade.
stock|broker /stɒ kbroʊkə r / (stockbrokers ) N‑COUNT A stockbroker is a person whose job is to buy and sell stocks and shares for people who want to invest money. [BUSINESS ]
sto ck|broker belt (stockbroker belts ) N‑COUNT The stockbroker belt is an area outside a city, especially London, where rich people who travel to work in the city live. [BRIT ] □ He grew up in the comfort of the Surrey stockbroker belt.
stock|broking /stɒ kbroʊk I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Stockbroking is the professional activity of buying and selling stocks and shares for clients. [BUSINESS ] □ His stockbroking firm was hit by the 1987 crash.
sto ck car (stock cars ) N‑COUNT A stock car is an old car which has had changes made to it so that it is suitable for races in which the cars often crash into each other. □ He acted as grand marshal of a stock car race.
sto ck con|trol N‑UNCOUNT Stock control is the activity of making sure that a company always has exactly the right amount of goods available to sell. [BUSINESS ]
sto ck cube (stock cubes ) N‑COUNT A stock cube is a solid cube made from dried meat or vegetable juices and other flavourings. Stock cubes are used to add flavour to dishes such as stews and soups.
sto ck ex|change ◆◇◇ (stock exchanges ) N‑COUNT A stock exchange is a place where people buy and sell stocks and shares. The stock exchange is also the trading activity that goes on there and the trading organization itself. [BUSINESS ] □ The shortage of good stock has kept some investors away from the stock exchange. □ …the New York Stock Exchange.
stock|holder /stɒ khoʊldə r / (stockholders ) N‑COUNT A stockholder is a person who owns shares in a company. [AM , BUSINESS ] in BRIT, use shareholder
stock|ing /stɒ k I ŋ/ (stockings )
1 N‑COUNT Stockings are items of women's clothing which fit closely over their feet and legs. Stockings are usually made of nylon or silk and are held in place by suspenders. □ …a pair of nylon stockings.
2 N‑COUNT A stocking is the same as a Christmas stocking .
3 → see also stock , body stocking
stock|inged /stɒ k I ŋd/ ADJ [ADJ n] If someone is in their stockinged feet, they are wearing socks, tights, or stockings, but no shoes. [LITERARY ] □ He tip-toed to the door in his stockinged feet.
sto ck|ing fill|er (stocking fillers ) also stocking-filler N‑COUNT A stocking filler is a small present that is suitable for putting in a Christmas stocking. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use stocking stuffer
sto ck|ing stuff|er (stocking stuffers ) N‑COUNT A stocking stuffer is the same as a stocking filler . [mainly AM ]