sto ck-in-tra de also stock in trade N‑SING [with poss] If you say that something is someone's stock-in-trade , you mean that it is a usual part of their behaviour or work. □ Patriotism is every politician's stock-in-trade.
stock|ist /stɒ k I st/ (stockists ) N‑COUNT A stockist of a particular product is someone who sells this product in their shop. [BRIT ] □ The name of your nearest stockist is available from the company.
sto ck mar|ket ◆◇◇ (stock markets ) N‑COUNT The stock market consists of the general activity of buying stocks and shares, and the people and institutions that organize it. [BUSINESS ] □ The company's shares promptly fell by 300 lire on the stock market.
sto ck op|tion (stock options ) N‑COUNT A stock option is an opportunity for the employees of a company to buy shares at a special price. [AM , BUSINESS ] □ He made a huge profit from shares purchased under the company's stock option program. in BRIT use share option
stock|pile /stɒ kpa I l/ (stockpiles , stockpiling , stockpiled )
1 VERB If people stockpile things such as food or weapons, they store large quantities of them for future use. □ [V n] People are stockpiling food for the coming winter.
2 N‑COUNT A stockpile of things is a large quantity of them that have been stored for future use. □ [+ of ] The two leaders also approved treaties to cut stockpiles of chemical weapons.
stock|room /stɒ kruːm/ (stockrooms ) also stock-room N‑COUNT A stockroom is a room, especially in a shop or a factory, where a stock of goods is kept.
sto ck-sti ll ADJ [ADJ after v] If someone stands or sits stock-still , they do not move at all. □ The lieutenant stopped and stood stock-still.
stock|taking /stɒ kte I k I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Stocktaking is the activity of counting and checking all the goods that a shop or business has. [BUSINESS ]
stocky /stɒ ki/ (stockier , stockiest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] A stocky person has a body that is broad, solid, and often short.
stodgy /stɒ dʒi/ (stodgier , stodgiest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] Stodgy food is very solid and heavy. It makes you feel very full, and is difficult to digest. □ He was disgusted with the stodgy pizzas on sale in London.
sto|gie /stoʊ gi/ (stogies ) N‑COUNT A stogie is a long thin cigar. [AM ]
sto|ic /stoʊ I k/ (stoics )
1 ADJ Stoic means the same as stoical . [FORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ They tried to be as stoic as their parents in this tragic situation.
2 N‑COUNT If you say that someone is a stoic , you approve of them because they do not complain or show they are upset in bad situations. [FORMAL , APPROVAL ]
stoi|cal /stoʊ I k ə l/ ADJ If you say that someone behaves in a stoical way, you approve of them because they do not complain or show they are upset in bad situations. [FORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ He never made excuses, maintaining a stoical silence. ● stoi|cal|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ She put up with it all stoically.
stoi|cism /stoʊ I s I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Stoicism is stoical behaviour. [FORMAL , APPROVAL ] □ They bore their plight with stoicism and fortitude.
stoke /stoʊ k/ (stokes , stoking , stoked )
1 VERB If you stoke a fire, you add coal or wood to it to keep it burning. □ [V n] She was stoking the stove with sticks of maple. ● PHRASAL VERB Stoke up means the same as stoke . □ [V P n] He stoked up the fire in the hearth.
2 VERB If you stoke something such as a feeling, you cause it to be felt more strongly. □ [V n] These demands are helping to stoke fears of civil war. ● PHRASAL VERB Stoke up means the same as stoke . □ [V P n] He has sent his proposals in the hope of stoking up interest for the idea.
stok|er /stoʊ kə r / (stokers ) N‑COUNT In former times a stoker was a person whose job was to stoke fires, especially on a ship or a steam train.
stole /stoʊ l/ (stoles ) Stole is the past tense of steal .
sto|len /stoʊ l ə n/ Stolen is the past participle of steal .
stol|id /stɒ l I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as stolid , you mean that they do not show much emotion or are not very exciting or interesting. □ He glanced furtively at the stolid faces of the two detectives.
stom|ach ◆◇◇ /stʌ mək/ (stomachs , stomaching , stomached )
1 N‑COUNT Your stomach is the organ inside your body where food is digested before it moves into the intestines. □ He had an upset stomach. □ My stomach is completely full.
2 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] You can refer to the front part of your body below your waist as your stomach . □ The children lay down on their stomachs. □ …stomach muscles.
3 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] If the front part of your body below your waist feels uncomfortable because you are feeling worried or frightened, you can refer to it as your stomach . □ His stomach was in knots.
4 N‑COUNT If you say that someone has a strong stomach , you mean that they are not disgusted by things that disgust most other people. □ Surgery often demands actual physical strength, as well as the possession of a strong stomach.
5 VERB If you cannot stomach something, you cannot accept it because you dislike it or disapprove of it. □ [V n/v-ing] I could never stomach the cruelty involved in the wounding of animals.
6 PHRASE If you do something on an empty stomach , you do it without having eaten. □ Avoid drinking on an empty stomach.